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enamel

American  
[ih-nam-uhl] / ɪˈnæm əl /

noun

  1. a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc., as an ornament or for protection.

  2. enamelware.

  3. any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.

  4. any enamellike surface with a bright luster.

  5. an artistic work executed in enamel.

  6. Dentistry. the hard, glossy, calcareous covering of the crown of a tooth, containing only a slight amount of organic substance.

verb (used with object)

enameled, enameling, enamelled, enamelling

  1. to inlay or overlay with enamel.

  2. to form an enamellike surface upon.

    to enamel cardboard.

  3. to decorate as with enamel; variegate with colors.

enamel British  
/ ɪˈnæməl /

noun

  1. a coloured glassy substance, translucent or opaque, fused to the surface of articles made of metal, glass, etc, for ornament or protection

  2. an article or articles ornamented with enamel

  3. an enamel-like paint or varnish

  4. any smooth glossy coating resembling enamel

  5. another word for nail polish

  6. the hard white calcified substance that covers the crown of each tooth

  7. (modifier)

    1. decorated or covered with enamel

      an enamel ring

    2. made with enamel

      enamel paste
"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

verb

  1. to inlay, coat, or otherwise decorate with enamel

  2. to ornament with glossy variegated colours, as if with enamel

  3. to portray in enamel

"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
enamel Scientific  
/ ĭ-năm′əl /

  1. 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.

enamel Cultural  

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

Other Word Forms

  • enameler noun
  • enamelist noun
  • enameller noun
  • enamelwork noun
  • unenameled adjective
  • unenamelled adjective

Etymology

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 smelt 1; smalto

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.

Steam rises into white sky as enamel mugs are passed and sweet bread tears open near flame.

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

Alchemy Merch, a Phoenix-area maker of custom enamel pins, patches and other apparel accessories, decided in December that it would raise prices this year after absorbing added tariff costs in 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

The ends, she explains, were covered in green enamel.

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

The method begins with cleaning the tooth surface and then carefully removing only the enamel for testing.

From Science Daily • Nov. 28, 2025

Arize got up and opened an enamel box and brought out some money.

From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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.