enamel

[ ih-nam-uhl ]

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)

, e·nam·eled, e·nam·el·ing or (especially British) e·nam·elled, e·nam·el·ling.

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

/ 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. See nail polish
   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

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

enamel

/ 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

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

Derived Forms

• eˈnamelˌwork, noun
• eˈnameller, noun

Other Words From

• e·namel·er especially British, e·namel·ler noun
• e·namel·ist especially British, e·namel·list noun
• e·namel·work noun
• une·nameled adjective
• une·namelled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of enamel¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of enamel¹

C15: from Old French esmail, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German smalz lard; see smelt ¹

Example Sentences

The bacteria ferment those things, creating natural acids that start to dissolve the tooth enamel, similar to how water combines with carbon dioxide to dissolve limestone in a cave.

From FiveThirtyEight

This lowers the pH in your mouth and can cause enamel demineralization, a precursor to cavities.

From Washington Post

Like the gap left behind after losing a tooth — the ragged, sore space in your mouth always felt larger than the tiny bit of enamel that fell out.

From Washington Post

Examination of layers of enamel in fossil teeth shows that early hominids were getting their first molar at age 3, twice as fast as us.

From FiveThirtyEight

Anyone who had lead in childhood tooth enamel was almost certainly born locally.

From MIT Technology Review

Eventually, the fire sale extended to his personal belongings—including a $20 enamel teapot.

From The Daily Beast

The chicken was cut into large chunks
and all the blood from both birds sat in a dirty old enamel jug.

From The Daily Beast

Fortunately, childhood is protected by a resisting candour, by an enamel over which all impurities glide.

From Project Gutenberg

The room was large, high-domed; the walls covered with gold and colored enamel in fantastic arabesques.

From Project Gutenberg

Grisel took a little silver and enamel cigarette box out of her pocket and put it on the table.

From Project Gutenberg

Years and etiquette combined have led her Majesty to the thraldom of the rouge and enamel pot.

From Project Gutenberg

He shrugged, reached into the desk for a box of Jaipur brass enamel and took from it a medal attached to a ribbon.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coating
• glaze
• lacquer
• stain
• varnish