enamel
Contents
EnglishEdit
PronunciationEdit
Etymology 1Edit
From Middle English enamel, from Anglo-Norman enamailler, from en- (“in-”) + amailler (“to enamel”), variant of Old French esmailler (“to enamel”), from esmal (“enamel”), from Frankish *smalt, from Proto-Germanic *smaltjan (“to smelt”). Compare German schmelzen, Danish smelte (“to melt”).
NounEdit
enamel (countable and uncountable, plural enamels)
- An opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects.
- A coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish.
- The hard covering on the exposed part of a tooth.
- A cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion.
TranslationsEdit
opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects
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coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish
covering on the tooth
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.
Translations to be checked
Etymology 2Edit
From Middle English enamelen, from the noun (see above).
VerbEdit
enamel (third-person singular simple present enamels, present participle (US) enameling or (UK) enamelling, simple past and past participle (US) enameled or (UK) enamelled)
- (transitive) To coat or decorate with enamel.
- (transitive) To variegate with colours, as if with enamel.
- Milton
- Oft he [the serpent] bowed / His turret crest and sleek enamelled neck.
- Milton
- (transitive) To form a glossy surface like enamel upon.
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to enamel card paper; to enamel leather or cloth
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- (transitive) To disguise with cosmetics, as a woman's complexion.
TranslationsEdit
to coat with enamel