Adjacent Words

Enamel definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ENAM'EL, n.
1. In mineralogy, a substance imperfectly vitrified, or matter in which the granular appearance is destroyed, and having a vitreous gloss.
In the arts, a substance of the nature of glass, differing from it by a greater degree of fusibility or opacity.
Enamels have for their basis a pure crystal glass or frit, ground with a fine oxyd of lead and tin. These baked together are the matter of enamels, and the color is varied by adding other substances, Oxyd of gold gives a red color; that of copper, a green; manganese, a violet; cobalt, a blue; and iron, a fine black.
2. That which is enameled; a smooth, glossy surface of various colors, resembling enamel.
3. In anatomy, the smooth hard substance which covers the crown of a tooth.
ENAM'EL, v.t. To lay enamel on a metal, as on gold, silver, copper, etc.
1. To paint in enamel.
2. To form a glossy surface like enamel.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth [syn: enamel, tooth enamel]
2: a colored glassy compound (opaque or partially opaque) that is fused to the surface of metal or glass or pottery for decoration or protection
3: a paint that dries to a hard glossy finish
4: any smooth glossy coating that resembles ceramic glaze v
1: coat, inlay, or surface with enamel

Merriam Webster's

I. transitive verb (-eled or -elled; -eling or enamelling) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French enameller, from en- + asmal, esmal enamel, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German smelzan to melt — more at smelt Date: 14th century 1. to cover, inlay, or decorate with enamel 2. to beautify with a colorful surface 3. to form a glossy surface on (as paper, leather, or cloth) • enameler noun • enamelist noun II. noun Date: 15th century 1. a usually opaque vitreous composition applied by fusion to the surface of metal, glass, or pottery 2. a surface or outer covering that resembles enamel 3. a. something that is enameled b. enamelware 4. a cosmetic intended to give a smooth or glossy appearance 5. a hard calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth — see tooth illustration 6. a paint that flows out to a smooth coat when applied and that dries with a glossy appearance

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a glasslike opaque or semi-transparent coating on metallic or other hard surfaces for ornament or as a preservative lining. 2 a a smooth hard coating. b a cosmetic simulating this. 3 the hard glossy natural coating over the crown of a tooth. 4 painting done in enamel. 5 poet. a smooth bright surface colouring, verdure, etc. --v.tr. (enamelled, enamelling; US enameled, enameling) 1 inlay or encrust (a metal etc.) with enamel. 2 portray (figures etc.) with enamel. 3 archaic adorn with varied colours. Phrases and idioms: enamel paint a paint that dries to give a smooth hard coat. Derivatives: enameller n. enamelwork n. Etymology: ME f. AF enameler, enamailler (as EN-(1), OF esmail f. Gmc)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Enamel En*am"el, n. 1. Any one of various preparations for giving a smooth, glossy surface like that of enamel. 2. A cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Enamel En*am"el, n. [Pref. en- + amel. See Amel, Smelt, v. t.] 1. A variety of glass, used in ornament, to cover a surface, as of metal or pottery, and admitting of after decoration in color, or used itself for inlaying or application in varied colors. 2. (Min.) A glassy, opaque bead obtained by the blowpipe. 3. That which is enameled; also, any smooth, glossy surface, resembling enamel, especially if variegated. 4. (Anat.) The intensely hard calcified tissue entering into the composition of teeth. It merely covers the exposed parts of the teeth of man, but in many animals is intermixed in various ways with the dentine and cement. Enamel painting, painting with enamel colors upon a ground of metal, porcelain, or the like, the colors being afterwards fixed by fire. Enamel paper, paper glazed a metallic coating.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Enamel En*am"el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Enameledor Enamelled; p. pr. & vb. n. Enameling or Enamelling.] 1. To lay enamel upon; to decorate with enamel whether inlaid or painted.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Enamel En*am"el, v. i. To practice the art of enameling.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Enamel En*am"el, a. Relating to the art of enameling; as, enamel painting. --Tomlinson.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(enamels) 1. Enamel is a substance like glass which can be heated and put onto metal, glass, or pottery in order to decorate or protect it. ...a white enamel saucepan on the oil stove. ...enamel baths. N-MASS: oft N n 2. Enamel is a hard, shiny paint that is used especially for painting metal and wood. ...enamel polymer paints... N-MASS: oft N n 3. Enamel is the hard white substance that forms the outer part of a tooth.

Moby Thesaurus

apply paint, bedaub, bedizen, begild, besmear, brush on paint, butter, calcimine, china, clay, coat, coating, color, complexion, cover, dab, daub, deep-dye, dip, distemper, double-dye, dye, emblazon, engild, face, facing, fast-dye, film, fresco, fur, gild, glaze, gloss, grain, hue, illuminate, imbue, ingrain, japan, lacquer, lay on, lay on color, paint, parget, pellicle, pigment, porcelain, prime, refractory, revetment, scale, scum, shade, shadow, shellac, skin, slap on, slather, slop on paint, smear, smear on, spread on, spread with, stain, stipple, tar, tinct, tincture, tinge, tint, tone, undercoat, varnish, veneer, wash, whitewash