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• emery
  emery

  noun

  a granular mineral substance consisting typically of corundum mixed with magnetite or hematite, used powdered, crushed, or consolidated for grinding and polishing.
• Emery
  Emery

  noun

  a male or female given name.

emery

¹ American  

[em-uh-ree, em-ree] / ˈɛm ə ri, ˈɛm ri /

noun

1. a granular mineral substance consisting typically of corundum mixed with magnetite or hematite, used powdered, crushed, or consolidated for grinding and polishing.

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Emery ² American  

[em-uh-ree, em-ree] / ˈɛm ə ri, ˈɛm ri /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

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emery British  

/ ˈɛmərɪ /

noun

1. 1. a hard greyish-black mineral consisting of corundum with either magnetite or haematite: used as an abrasive and polishing agent, esp as a coating on paper, cloth, etc. Formula: Al 2 O 3

   2. ( as modifier )

      emery paper

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Etymology

Origin of emery

1475–85; < Middle French emeri, Old French esmeril < Vulgar Latin *smēriculum, equivalent to Medieval Greek smêri (for Greek smýris rubbing powder; akin to smear ) + Latin -culum -cule ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emery Emery

Should you want to polish metal, you’d do well to work with emery cloth.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

Any imperfections, any divots or ridges, must be judiciously smoothed, and a climber’s equipment includes pumice stones, sandpaper and emery boards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2021

Joe Niekro had an emery board and a piece of sandpaper.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 5, 2020

The first emery deposits in America were discovered there.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018

Flossie clicked on the radio to soft dance music, then opened the glove compartment to find an emery board for filing down her nails.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Between 2020 and 2026, Grey Oaks expanded operations from $31 million to $49 million, with initiation fees increasing from $160,000 to $400,000, said Don Emery, its current general manager and chief operation officer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

"He has made a very good impact with his qualities," said a delighted Emery.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

“There are people who throw punches and bluster to make noise in the room,” said Emery Simon, Spotify’s former vice president of global government relations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

That gained the attention of Wrightwood Fire Safe Council President Jim Emery, who invited county officials to brief community members on the project.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 27, 2026

I start to object—I even think of trying to find Emery.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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