zinc

[zingk]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  a ductile, bluish-white metallic element: used in making galvanized iron, brass, and other alloys, and as an element in voltaic cells. Zn; 65.37; 30; 7.14 at 20°C.

2. a piece of this metal used as an element in a voltaic cell.

verb (used with object)

zincked, zinced , zincking, zincing .

1. to coat or cover with zinc.

zinc

/ zɪŋk /

noun

1. a brittle bluish-white metallic element that becomes coated with a corrosion-resistant layer in moist air and occurs chiefly in sphalerite and smithsonite. It is a constituent of several alloys, esp brass and nickel-silver, and is used in die-casting, galvanizing metals, and in battery electrodes. Symbol: Zn; atomic no: 30; atomic wt: 65.39; valency: 2; relative density: 7.133; melting pt: 419.58°C; boiling pt: 907°C

2. informal,  corrugated galvanized iron

zinc

1. A shiny, bluish-white metallic element that is brittle at room temperature but is malleable when heated. It is used in alloys such as brass and bronze, as a coating for iron and steel, and in various household objects. Zinc is essential to human and animal growth. Atomic number 30; atomic weight 65.39; melting point 419.4°C; boiling point 907°C; specific gravity 7.133 (25°C); valence 2.

2. See Periodic Table

Other Word Forms

• zincky adjective
• zincy adjective
• zinky adjective
• zincoid adjective
• zincic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zinc¹

1635–45; < German Zink, perhaps derivative of Zinke ( n ) prong, tine, from the spikelike form it takes in a furnace

Word History and Origins

Origin of zinc¹

C17: from German Zink, perhaps from Zinke prong, from its jagged appearance in the furnace

Example Sentences

It was bought by Polymetals Resources in 2023 and the company was in the process of restarting mining activities for silver, zinc and lead metal production this year.

Read more on BBC

Taking zinc, for example - a supplement often recommended for peri-menopausal women - can also affect the absorption rate of magnesium.

Read more on BBC

The company said the on-year rise in profitability was due to higher zinc in concentrate sales volumes, a rise in base-metal prices, and by-product revenues combined with significantly lower copper smelter processing charges.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Later, scientists developed techniques that used enzymes like zinc finger nucleases to directly repair genes.

Read more on Science Daily

Australia-based South32 and Canada’s Trilogy jointly own the Ambler Metals project in northwest Alaska, which includes deposits of copper, zinc, silver and other metals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gold 
• iron 
• metal 
• mineral 
• platinum