enamel
Americannoun
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a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc., as an ornament or for protection.
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any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.
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any enamellike surface with a bright luster.
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an artistic work executed in enamel.
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Dentistry. the hard, glossy, calcareous covering of the crown of a tooth, containing only a slight amount of organic substance.
verb (used with object)
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enamels,
present (3rd person singular)
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enameled,
past participle, past
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enamelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
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enameling,
present participle
-
enamelling
present participle (especially British)
-
to inlay or overlay with enamel.
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to form an enamellike surface upon.
to enamel cardboard.
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to decorate as with enamel; variegate with colors.
noun
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a coloured glassy substance, translucent or opaque, fused to the surface of articles made of metal, glass, etc, for ornament or protection
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an article or articles ornamented with enamel
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an enamel-like paint or varnish
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any smooth glossy coating resembling enamel
-
another word for nail polish
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the hard white calcified substance that covers the crown of each tooth
-
(modifier)
-
decorated or covered with enamel
an enamel ring
-
made with enamel
enamel paste
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verb
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to inlay, coat, or otherwise decorate with enamel
-
to ornament with glossy variegated colours, as if with enamel
-
to portray in enamel
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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enamelernoun
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enamelistnoun
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enamellernoun
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enamelworknoun
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unenameledadjective
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unenamelledadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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enamelsimple
-
enamelssimple
-
have enameledperfect
-
have enamelledperfect
-
has enameledperfect
-
has enamelledperfect
-
am enamelingprogressive
-
am enamellingprogressive
-
are enamelingprogressive
-
are enamellingprogressive
-
is enamelingprogressive
-
is enamellingprogressive
-
have been enamelingperfect progressive
-
have been enamellingperfect progressive
-
has been enamelingperfect progressive
-
has been enamellingperfect progressive
Past
-
enameledsimple
-
enamelledsimple
-
had enameledperfect
-
had enamelledperfect
-
was enamelingprogressive
-
was enamellingprogressive
-
were enamelingprogressive
-
were enamellingprogressive
-
had been enamelingperfect progressive
-
had been enamellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
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 smelt 1; cf. smalto
Explanation
Enamel is the glossy, decorative coating that's applied to metal or pottery to make it prettier and sometimes sturdier. You might cook a casserole in your favorite pot, made of blue enamel. Enamel is used in all kinds of everyday objects, including the surface of washing machines, baking dishes, and some bath tubs. The enamel itself is made from melted powdered glass, which can easily be fused to metal and other surfaces. The outer part of your teeth is also known as enamel, and though sugar and other foods can decay it, your tooth enamel is actually the strongest, hardest substance in your body.
Vocabulary lists containing enamel
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I use a Copco enamel pot I got on eBay for rice and soups.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
They then dissolved the powdered enamel in phosphoric acid, releasing carbon dioxide gas that contained the isotope bonds they wanted to study.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
All of this means much more time sifting through silica and wielding her tiny enamel brush.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
Their findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest the gel could repair enamel that has been weakened by mineral loss or erosion, reinforce enamel that is still healthy, and help protect teeth from future damage.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026
As they drank hot milk and honey from white enamel mugs for breakfast, they passed close to a tiny village.
From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell
But unlike in most other synthetic enamels, the researchers encased the wires in a malleable metal-based coating.
From Science Magazine ● Feb. 2, 2022
She painted it with 1 Shot-brand sign lettering enamels mixed with clear enamel and pearlescent powdered pigments.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 25, 2020
You can buy the enamels from Rust-Oleum for about $40 a can, by the way.
From US News ● Jul. 18, 2016
On the less impressive side are enamels that seem to aspire to the condition of Modern easel paintings, encompassing subject matter both abstract and figurative.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2016
A frame of coloured enamels by Mr. Bailey, and some in black-and-white by Mr. Henderson and Mr. Barnes, also attracted considerable notice.
Using an enameled skillet, Syd shows T.J. how to brown the meat along with the onions, then adds tomato paste, explaining that caramelizing it enriches the sauce.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2025
Upstairs, the exhibition highlights 19th-century innovations, including the introduction of colored porcelain in celadon, and enameled, painted and gilded pieces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2025
And if your special someone is a super-fan of the visiting team, we’ve got you covered there too, with options that include Celtic-logo hoops and green enameled three-leaf clover studs.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2023
For sale: The historic Decatur Lustron, a “space-age ranch” style home built in 1949 in Decatur, Georgia, from enameled steel panels supplied by a fighter plane factory.
From Washington Times ● May 18, 2023
The tub was a massive claw-footed affair of enameled copper.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
At the top is an enamelled dove with outspread wings, which represents the Holy Ghost.
From Reuters ● May 5, 2023
Page is excited to point out that the table is a reflection of the design in the enamelled iron ceiling.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 8, 2018
A stunning necklace, wrought with jewelled and enamelled flowers, fruits, and butterflies, weighed heavily on its display stand.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 21, 2015
More than 300 black finger posts and eight enamelled Theatreland street signs are being offered in a sealed bid auction which ends on Wednesday.
From BBC ● May 21, 2013
A superb enamelled chess-board, with pieces of jasper and crystal, stood at checkmate beside the bed.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
The show offers no reason to think a major resurgence in enameling is in the offing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2016
The award is accompanied by a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso that has been made unique by commemorative engraving and enameling.
From Forbes ● Aug. 30, 2014
In one corner stood a small enameling kiln, inherited from his grandmother, along with heirloom jars of glazes featuring her handwritten labels and nylon lids cut from stockings.
From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2012
The size-12 ring, which commemorates the Giants’ 20-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills in 1991, has two football-shaped diamonds surrounded by “worn blue enameling framed by 17 smaller diamonds,” according to the auction house’s description.
From Washington Post ● May 17, 2012
No man in France knew the secret of enameling, which made the Italian cup so beautiful, and Palissy had not the means to go to Italy, where he probably could have learned it.
From Eclectic School Readings: Stories from Life by Orison Swett Marden
She also watched a demonstration of traditional enamelling and gilding by hand by master artisans before examining several pieces in closer detail.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2022
He sold his patent-rights in a bath-tub enamelling process.
From Time Magazine Archive
The end of the 15th century saw a development in enamelling which was not only remarkable, but revolutionary in its method.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various
The basse-taille process is also a combination of metal work in the form of engraving, carving and enamelling.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various
He has worked in all these processes, developing them from the art side, and helping to make enamelling not only a decorative adjunct to metal-work, but raising it to a fine art.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various
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