1475–85; < Middle French emeri, Old French esmeril < Vulgar Latin *smēriculum, equivalent to Medieval Greek smêri (for Greek smýris rubbing powder; akin to smear ) + Latin -culum -cule 2
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Should you want to polish metal, you’d do well to work with emery cloth.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 28, 2023
Any imperfections, any divots or ridges, must be judiciously smoothed, and a climber’s equipment includes pumice stones, sandpaper and emery boards.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2021
Joe Niekro had an emery board and a piece of sandpaper.
From Washington Times ● Mar. 5, 2020
The first emery deposits in America were discovered there.
From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018
And he took an emery board out of his pocket and began filing his nails.
From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier
Emery has shown faith in moving for the eight-cap Argentina international as he looks to rebuild his squad at Villa Park.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Villa head coach Unai Emery said he was "delighted" with Garnacho's arrival.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
Emery has got Villa to overperform for most of his three-and-a-half years in charge but has to cope with a summer of change at Villa Park.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
One option explored was Nicolas Jackson reuniting with his former Villarreal manager Unai Emery, before Ian Maatsen moved to Villa Park and Omari Kellyman joined Chelsea.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
It was never just art that bonded Emery and me as friends.
From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman
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.
