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
-
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
Shear cracks in the seven-lane crossing were discovered in 2013, but they were tiny, and filled by epoxy, while monitoring increased.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 26, 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
Conventional polymers like thermoset epoxies are typically used to permanently bond materials such as metal, carbon, concrete, glass, ceramic and plastic to form multicomponent materials such as composites.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 8, 2024
The QuikSteel epoxies harden within five minutes and fully cure within an hour.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 20, 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
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
Today, the cave home is a carefully epoxied science-fiction bunker of rock walls, smooth concrete surfaces, black steel and stalactites.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2018
The sections are epoxied together and lashed with steel cables.
From New York Times ● Jul. 2, 2014
I sat in the back middle seat and remained still, as if epoxied to the burgundy vinyl.
From Salon ● Jan. 12, 2014
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.
