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
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enamelling
present participle (especially British)
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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
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another word for nail polish
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the hard white calcified substance that covers the crown of each tooth
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(modifier)
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decorated or covered with enamel
an enamel ring
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made with enamel
enamel paste
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verb
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to inlay, coat, or otherwise decorate with enamel
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to ornament with glossy variegated colours, as if with enamel
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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
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enamelssimple
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have enameledperfect
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have enamelledperfect
-
has enameledperfect
-
has enamelledperfect
-
am enamelingprogressive
-
am enamellingprogressive
-
are enamelingprogressive
-
are enamellingprogressive
-
is enamelingprogressive
-
is enamellingprogressive
-
have been enamelingperfect progressive
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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:
To make the measurement, Eagle and lead author Randy Flores used a dental drill to collect enamel from the fossil teeth.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026
Rare isotopes of carbon and oxygen can bond together within enamel.
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
"Our results suggest that replacing sugar-sweetened sodas with unsweetened sparkling water may help lower the risk of enamel erosion," said Zulfiqar.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Midges whirred around a bunch of small bananas on a blue-rimmed white enamel plate.
From "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy
As with earlier construction of artificial enamels, the team built its new material from wires of hydroxyapatite—the same mineral that makes up real enamel.
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 white or gray crystalline salt, with a slight alkaline taste, used as a flux, in soldering metals, making enamels, fixing colors on porcelain, and as a soap.
From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Noah Webster
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
The tradition is Nico will grab his little enameled metal bowl, and I’ll hand him the cup.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 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
If you're new to Dutch-oven cooking, this enameled cast iron model from Lodge is a great place to start.
From Salon ● Mar. 12, 2023
Felicia’s skin appears enameled in pinks like the wallpaper of Old Havana inns.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
At the top is an enamelled dove with outspread wings, which represents the Holy Ghost.
From Reuters ● May 5, 2023
During the excavation, a number of other items were unearthed including enamelled brooches, coins, decorated pottery and animal bones.
From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2021
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
In one, a painted floor tile was decorated with a photograph of dog shit; a toilet bowl had been enamelled in the vivid colors of the Swedish royal crest.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 10, 2017
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
A typical piece, says the label’s creative director, Beth Bugdaycay, especially one that necessitates demanding details like champlevé enameling, can pass between six to nine artisans with different types of expertise.
From New York Times ● Apr. 14, 2022
Jeweler Holly Dyment's joyful black Labrador with encrusted diamond collar pendant is crafted in 18-karat rose gold and is made using a signature champlevé enameling technique.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2015
The award is accompanied by a Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso that has been made unique by commemorative engraving and enameling.
From Forbes ● Aug. 30, 2014
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
The specialty of the place is the enameling of gold and silver upon iron.
From A Midsummer Drive Through the Pyrenees by Edwin Asa Dix
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
With the decline of this civilization the art of enamelling probably died out.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various
Literature.—Among older books on enamelling, apart from the works of Neri and Benvenuto Cellini, are J.-P.
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
