enamel

[ ih-nam-uh l ]

/ ɪˈnæm əl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR enamel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc., as an ornament or for protection.

enamelware.

any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.

any enamellike surface with a bright luster.

an artistic work executed in enamel.

Dentistry. the hard, glossy, calcareous covering of the crown of a tooth, containing only a slight amount of organic substance.

verb (used with object), e·nam·eled, e·nam·el·ing or (especially British) e·nam·elled, e·nam·el·ling.

to inlay or overlay with enamel.

to form an enamellike surface upon: to enamel cardboard.

to decorate as with enamel; variegate with colors.

Nearby words

Origin of enamel

1275–1325; Middle English enamelen < Anglo-French enameler, enamailler, equivalent to en- en-¹ + -amaler, derivative of asmal, esmal enamel, Old French esmail (-al taken as the suffix -ail) < Old Low Franconian *smalt- something melted, cognate with German Schmalz fat; akin to smelt¹; cf. smalto

Related forms

e·nam·el·er; especially British, e·nam·el·ler, noune·nam·el·ist; especially British, e·nam·el·list, noune·nam·el·work, nounun·e·nam·eled, adjective

un·e·nam·elled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for enamel

Eventually, the fire sale extended to his personal belongings—including a $20 enamel teapot.
The Zillionaires Who Lost Everything|Tom Sykes|October 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The acid thus generated attacks the enamel of the teeth, causing decay of the dentine.
A Practical Physiology|Albert F. Blaisdell
Not long since, in our own day, there was a similar craze for covering furniture with enamel paints.
Little Books About Old Furniture. Volume II. The Period of Queen Anne|J. P. Blake
Concede, if you will, that every time he coughs it shakes the enamel off'n his teeth.
Sundry Accounts|Irvin S. Cobb

Numerous colours are likewise injured by lime and fire, and cannot therefore be employed in fresco, or enamel painting.
Field's Chromatography|George Field
The ground between the ornaments has been cut down, probably for the insertion of niello or enamel colour.
Finger-Ring Lore|William Jones

British Dictionary definitions for enamel

enamel

/ (ɪˈnæməl) /

noun

a coloured glassy substance, translucent or opaque, fused to the surface of articles made of metal, glass, etc, for ornament or protection

an article or articles ornamented with enamel

an enamel-like paint or varnish

any smooth glossy coating resembling enamel

another word for nail polish

the hard white calcified substance that covers the crown of each tooth

(modifier)

decorated or covered with enamelan enamel ring
made with enamelenamel paste

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled (tr)

to inlay, coat, or otherwise decorate with enamel

to ornament with glossy variegated colours, as if with enamel

to portray in enamel

Derived Formsenameller, enamellist, US enameler or enamelist, nounenamelwork, noun

Word Origin for enamel

C15: from Old French esmail, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German smalz lard; see smelt 1

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 enamel

enamel

early 14c., from Anglo-French enamailler (early 14c.), from en- "in" (see en- (1)) + amailler "to enamel," variant of Old French esmailler, from esmal "enamel," from Frankish *smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smaltjan "to smelt" (see smelt (v.)). Related: Enameled; enameling.

enamel

early 15c., from enamel (v.).

Medicine definitions for enamel

enamel

[ ĭ-năm′əl ]

n.

The hard, calcareous substance covering the exposed portion of a tooth.

Science definitions for enamel

enamel

[ ĭ-năm′əl ]

The hard, translucent substance covering the exposed portion of a tooth in mammals. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and consists mostly of calcium salts.

Culture definitions for enamel

enamel

The hard, white substance that covers the crown of a tooth.

enamel

noun

verb (used with object), e·nam·eled, e·nam·el·ing or (especially British) e·nam·elled, e·nam·el·ling.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of enamel

Examples from the Web for enamel

enamel

noun

verb -els, -elling or -elled or US -els, -eling or -eled (tr)

Word Origin for enamel

enamel

enamel

enamel

n.

enamel

enamel