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chrome

[krohm]
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noun
  1. chromium.
  2. chromium-plated or other bright metallic trim, as on an automobile.
  3. (of dyeing) the dichromate of potassium or sodium.
  4. Photography. a positive color transparency; kodachrome.
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verb (used with object), chromed, chrom·ing.
  1. (of dyeing) to subject to a bath of dichromate of potassium or sodium.
  2. to plate (metal) with a compound of chromium.
  3. to treat or tan (a hide or leather) with a chromium compound.
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Origin of chrome

1790–1800; < French < Greek chrôma color; (in defs 1, 2, 6, 7) shortened form of chromium
Related formsmul·ti·chrome, nounun·chromed, adjective

-chrome

  1. variant of chrom- as the final element of a compound word: polychrome.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

amberivorylemongoldblondcreambuffchromesaffronsandbisquelayerscaleenameloverlaylaminatecoverflakegildfoil

Examples from the Web for chrome

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Mr. Chrome took Paul in his arms, and lifted him into it as if he was but a child.

    Winning His Way

    Charles Carleton Coffin

  • Mr. Chrome, who loved to hunt and fish, brought quails and pigeons.

    Winning His Way

    Charles Carleton Coffin

  • Paul was on his way to Mr. Chrome's shop, to begin work for the day.

    Winning His Way

    Charles Carleton Coffin

  • Like the chrome molybdate it would be superfluous as a pigment.

  • Chrome listened placidly and without impatience of any kind.

    Under Fire

    Charles King

British Dictionary definitions for chrome

chrome

noun
    1. another word for chromium, esp when present in a pigment or dye
    2. (as modifier)a chrome dye
  2. anything plated with chromium, such as fittings on a car body
  3. a pigment or dye that contains chromium
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verb
  1. to plate or be plated with chromium, usually by electroplating
  2. to treat or be treated with a chromium compound, as in dyeing or tanning
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Word Origin

C19: via French from Greek khrōma colour

-chrome

adj combining form, n combining form
  1. colour, coloured, or pigmentmonochrome
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Word Origin

from Greek khrōma colour
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for chrome

n.

1800, "chromium," from French chrome, the name proposed by Fourcroy and Haüy for a new element, from Greek khroma "color" (see chroma); so called because it makes colorful compounds. The name was given to the metallic element now known as chromium (which had been isolated 1798 by French chemist Nicolas-Louis Vauquelin); it continued in commercial use in English for "chrome steel" (steel with 2 percent or so chrome) after the chemical name was changed internationally. As a short form of chromium plating it dates from 1937. Related: Chromic.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
chrome in Medicine

chrome

(krōm)
n.
  1. Chromium, especially as a source of pigment.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.