enamel

[ih-nam-uh l]

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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.

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 formse·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, adjectiveun·e·nam·elled, adjective

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

Related Words for enameled

glassy, shiny, lustrous, translucent, burnished, decorated, gild, lacquer, laminate, cover, paint, glaze, smear, stain, tint, illuminate, wash, enliven, embellish, darken

Examples from the Web for enameled

Historical Examples of enameled

At last the last plate and enameled cup was washed and dried.
The Twins of Suffering Creek
Ridgwell Cullum
Stationary tubs may be made of wood, of enameled iron, or of slate.
Rural Hygiene
Henry N. Ogden
The wash-basin in the bath-room is either marble, enameled iron, or porcelain.
Rural Hygiene
Henry N. Ogden
Matte Enamel, medium weight; Enameled, medium weight; Velvet, medium weight.
Bromide Printing and Enlarging
John A. Tennant
It was brought to her in an enameled cup from which she was accustomed to drink.
Louis XIV., Makers of History Series
John S. C. Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for enameled

enamel

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 enameled

enamel

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

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.

enameled in Medicine

enamel

[ĭ-năm′əl]

n.

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

enameled in Science

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.

enameled in Culture

enamel

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