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.

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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

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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 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.

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enamel Cultural  

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

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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

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

From Salon • Mar. 8, 2026

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

From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025

The intense morning sickness she endured during the pregnancy had eroded the enamel on her teeth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 28, 2025

To solve this puzzle, researchers from the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands examined the chemical makeup of the mosasaur tooth enamel using isotope analysis.

From Science Daily • Dec. 15, 2025

On the white enamel surface is a pile of radishes, washed but uncut.

From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

Related Words

• coating
• glaze
• lacquer
• stain
• varnish