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

Economic worries dragged down prices for copper and oil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Other companies and utilities have complained of similar acts by thieves, who seek out copper or scrap metal in exposed wiring.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Bristol City councillor Fabian Breckels made the comment under a post of a photograph of an individual from an ethnic minority who was being accused of stealing copper gas canisters.

Read more on BBC

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

For their study, the team fabricated intricate mathematical lattice shapes called gyroids out of iron, silver, and copper, demonstrating their technique's ability to produce strong yet complex structures.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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• detective 
• man 
• officer 
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• police 
• policewoman