copper

¹

[kop-er]

noun

1. a malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish-brown color: used in large quantities as an electrical conductor and in the manufacture of alloys, as brass and bronze. Cu; 63.54; 29; 8.92 at 20°C.

2. a metallic reddish brown.

3. a coin composed of copper, bronze, or the like, as the U.S. cent or the British penny.

4. any of several butterflies of the family Lycaenidae, as Lycaena hypophleas American copper, having copper-colored wings spotted and edged with black.

5. a container made of copper.

6. a tool partly or wholly made of copper.

   a soldering copper.

7. British.,  a large kettle, now usually made of iron, used for cooking or to boil laundry.

adjective

1. made of copper.

   copper kettles.

2. reddish-brown; coppery.

   The copper sun sank into the sea.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover, coat, or sheathe with copper.

2. Informal.,  hedge.

copper

²

[kop-er]

noun

Slang.

1. a police officer.

copper

¹

/ ˈkɒpə /

noun

1. 1. a malleable ductile reddish metallic element occurring as the free metal, copper glance, and copper pyrites: used as an electrical and thermal conductor and in such alloys as brass and bronze. Symbol: Cu; atomic no: 29; atomic wt: 63.546; valency: 1 or 2; relative density: 8.96; melting pt: 1084.87±+0.2°C; boiling pt: 2563°C

   2. ( as modifier )

      a copper coin

2. 1. the reddish-brown colour of copper

   2. ( as adjective )

      copper hair

3. informal,  any copper or bronze coin

4. a large vessel, formerly of copper, used for boiling or washing

5. any of various small widely distributed butterflies of the genera Lycaena, Heodes, etc, typically having reddish-brown wings: family Lycaenidae

verb

1. (tr) to coat or cover with copper

copper

²

/ ˈkɒpə /

noun

1. Often shortened to: cop. a slang word for policeman

copper

1. A reddish-brown, ductile, malleable metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is widely used for electrical wires, water pipes, and rust-resistant parts, either in its pure form or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Atomic number 29; atomic weight 63.546; melting point 1,083°C; boiling point 2,595°C; specific gravity 8.96; valence 1, 2.

2. See Periodic Table See Note at element

Other Word Forms

• coppery adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of copper¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English coper, copper, Old English coper, copor (cognate with Old Norse koparr, German Kupfer ), from Late Latin cuprum, for Latin ( aes ) Cyprium “(metal) from Cyprus”

Origin of copper²

First recorded in 1830–40; perhaps cop ² + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of copper¹

Old English coper, from Latin Cyprium aes Cyprian metal, from Greek Kupris Cyprus

Origin of copper²

C19: from _cop ¹ (vb) + _-er ¹

Example Sentences

The company is also executing a large-scale cost-cutting program and holds undervalued assets, including its stake in copper producer Aurubis and its Technologies division, they add.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The China-backed miner derives 74% of its total revenue as of 2024 from the metal and is increasing its copper assets, making it an ideal proxy to copper markets, she says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Archaeologists have recovered thousands of clay-fired cooking balls and materials brought from faraway regions, such as quartz crystal from Arkansas, soapstone from the Atlanta area, and copper ornaments originating near the Great Lakes.

Read more on Science Daily

“Its own copper production in Chile is declining, its capex is rising—in part due to capital-intensive, longer-term copper projects—and its relative exposure to iron ore and met coal is rising.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Australian resources giant BHP said Monday it had dropped a bid to take over British rival Anglo American that would have created the world's largest miner of copper.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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• detective 
• man 
• officer 
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• police 
• policewoman