copper

¹

[ kop-er ]

noun

1. a malleable, ductile, metallic element having a characteristic reddish-brown color: used in large quantities as an electrical conductor and in the manufacture of alloys, as brass and bronze. : Cu; : 63.54; : 29; : 8.92 at 20°C.
2. a metallic reddish brown.
3. a coin composed of copper, bronze, or the like, as the U.S. cent or the British penny.
4. any of several butterflies of the family Lycaenidae, as Lycaena hypophleas American copper, having copper-colored wings spotted and edged with black.
5. a container made of copper.
6. a tool partly or wholly made of copper:

   a soldering copper.

7. British. a large kettle, now usually made of iron, used for cooking or to boil laundry.

adjective

1. made of copper:

   copper kettles.

2. reddish-brown; coppery:

   The copper sun sank into the sea.

verb (used with object)

1. to cover, coat, or sheathe with copper.
2. Informal. hedge ( def 6 ).

copper

²

[ kop-er ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a police officer.

copper

¹

/ ˈkɒpə /

noun

1. 1. a malleable ductile reddish metallic element occurring as the free metal, copper glance, and copper pyrites: used as an electrical and thermal conductor and in such alloys as brass and bronze. Symbol: Cu; atomic no: 29; atomic wt: 63.546; valency: 1 or 2; relative density: 8.96; melting pt: 1084.87±+0.2°C; boiling pt: 2563°C cupriccuprous cupro-
   2. ( as modifier )

      a copper coin

2. 1. the reddish-brown colour of copper
   2. ( as adjective )

      copper hair

3. informal.
   any copper or bronze coin
4. a large vessel, formerly of copper, used for boiling or washing
5. any of various small widely distributed butterflies of the genera Lycaena, Heodes, etc, typically having reddish-brown wings: family Lycaenidae

verb

1. tr to coat or cover with copper

copper

²

/ ˈkɒpə /

noun

1. a slang word for policeman Often shortened tocop

copper

/ kŏp′ər /

1. A reddish-brown, ductile, malleable metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is widely used for electrical wires, water pipes, and rust-resistant parts, either in its pure form or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Atomic number 29; atomic weight 63.546; melting point 1,083°C; boiling point 2,595°C; specific gravity 8.96; valence 1, 2.
2. See Periodic Table See Note at element

Derived Forms

• ˈcoppery, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of copper¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English coper, copper, Old English coper, copor (cognate with Old Norse koparr, German Kupfer ), from Late Latin cuprum, for Latin ( aes ) Cyprium “(metal) from Cyprus”

Origin of copper²

First recorded in 1830–40; perhaps cop ² + -er ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of copper¹

Old English coper, from Latin Cyprium aes Cyprian metal, from Greek Kupris Cyprus

Origin of copper²

C19: from cop ¹(vb) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a research team from the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research has now introduced a novel method by which copper is effectively removed from tumor cells, killing them.

From Science Daily

The patch is made of a silicone elastomer that houses an array of small piezoelectric transducers sandwiched between stretchable copper electrodes.

From Science Daily

China already has considerable appetite for the region's exports, including Brazilian soybeans and Chilean copper.

From BBC

In August, he unveiled a bizarre statue of Chan, apparently made of oxidised green copper and steel, by artist Daniel Arsham.

From BBC

The company’s share price took a hit last month when the startup missed delivery expectations for the third quarter and lowered its production forecast, reportedly because of miscommunication with its supplier of copper windings.

From Los Angeles Times