epoxy
Americanadjective
noun
-
epoxies
plural
verb (used with object)
adjective
-
of, consisting of, or containing an oxygen atom joined to two different groups that are themselves joined to other groups
epoxy group
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of, relating to, or consisting of an epoxy resin
noun
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Any of various artificial resins made of chains of epoxide rings. Epoxies are tough, very adhesive, and resistant to chemicals. They are used to make protective coatings and glues.
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Also called epoxy resin
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of epoxy
Explanation
Epoxy is a very strong type of glue. Epoxy is used in the construction of airplanes and cars, among other things. While epoxy can be used for a variety of substances made of a certain chemical compound, from paints to plastics, it most commonly means an industrial-strength adhesive. Epoxy is so sticky and so strong that it can hold together the parts of a boat or a bicycle, and keep the fin of a surfboard attached, even in the water. The word epoxy combines epi-, "in addition" and oxy, from oxygen.
Vocabulary lists containing epoxy
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:
Avcoat is a mix of silica fibers, phenolic microballoons, and epoxy resin that chars and erodes, removing heat away.
From Barron's ● Apr. 10, 2026
Made from sleek ceramic epoxy over fiberglass, the stacked dishes are piled tilting this way and that.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
It was essentially a collection of 17 fuel tanks in a sheath of carbon fiber cloth, epoxy and paper — a skin so fragile that it could be damaged by an elbow poke.
From New York Times ● May 8, 2024
In their testing, the researchers used a shape-memory polymer named E44 epoxy, a stiff and glass-like plastic at room temperature.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 29, 2024
The walls were painted with thick, gobby epoxy paint, and all the electrical outlets were plugged around the edges with a gooey material.
From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston
The basic materials -- usually epoxies or acrylics -- come mostly from petrochemical feedstocks.
From Science Daily ● May 15, 2024
Cracks in concrete can be repaired with special epoxies that are applied with a common caulk gun you probably own.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 18, 2017
Carbon nanotubes: These extremely strong structures made from sheets of rolled graphene have been used in everything from bicycle components to industrial epoxies.
From Slate ● Sep. 6, 2016
Still, it was here where Mr. Kern was introduced to epoxies that were left as samples by traveling salesmen.
From New York Times ● Mar. 28, 2016
Profit increased 16 percent in the performance-systems unit on sales of synthetic rubber and automotive materials, and performance products advanced 17 percent amid gains in epoxies and polyurethanes.
From BusinessWeek ● Jul. 27, 2011
The small stage in the corner sat empty; the sticker-covered windows, Knupp indicated, would be taken out, epoxied and saved for posterity.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 23, 2023
A new pair of circular mirrors were epoxied in place.
From Washington Post ● Sep. 21, 2020
The demonstrators clasped hands with one other and then epoxied themselves in the doorjambs.
From Fox News ● Jul. 27, 2019
I sat in the back middle seat and remained still, as if epoxied to the burgundy vinyl.
From Salon ● Jan. 12, 2014
The four marble tabletops arrived from Gem Marble and were epoxied to their bases.
From New York Times ● Jul. 27, 2010
Together, they cleaned up the seams and did all the caulking and epoxying.
From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2021
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.
