cement

¹ce·ment

noun \si-ˈment also ˈsē-ment\

Definition of CEMENT

1

a : concrete

b : a powder of alumina, silica, lime, iron oxide, and magnesium oxide burned together in a kiln and finely pulverized and used as an ingredient of mortar and concrete; also : any mixture used for a similar purpose

2

: a binding element or agency: as

a : a substance to make objects adhere to each other

b : something serving to unite firmly <justice is the cement that holds a political community together — R. M. Hutchins>

3

: cementum

4

: a plastic composition made especially of zinc or silica for filling dental cavities

5

: the fine-grained groundmass or glass of a porphyry

Examples of CEMENT

1. There is a layer of cement under the bricks.
2. <what kind of cement works best on glass and pottery?>

Origin of CEMENT

Middle English sement, from Anglo-French ciment, from Latin caementum stone chips used in making mortar, from caedere to cut

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CEMENT

Synonyms

adhesive, bond, glue, size

Related Words

epoxy, epoxy resin, library paste, mucilage, paste, superglue, water glass; dope, goo, gum

Near Antonyms

detaching, disengaging, parting, separation; unbinding, unfastening, unfettering, untying (or untieing); emancipation, freedom, liberation, release

Other Building Terms

batten, cistern, hearth, lath, transom, wainscot

Rhymes with CEMENT

absent, accent, Advent, anent, ascent, assent, augment, besprent, comment, consent, content, convent, descent, detent, dissent, docent, event, extent, ferment, foment, fragment, frequent, hell-bent, indent, intent, invent, lament, loment, low-rent, mordent, outspent, percent, pigment, portent, present, prevent, pup tent, quitrent, rack-rent, relent, repent, resent, segment, Shymkent, Tashkent, torment, well-meant, wisent

²cement

verb

Definition of CEMENT

transitive verb

1

: to unite or make firm by or as if by cement

2

: to overlay with concrete

intransitive verb

: to become cemented

— ce·ment·er noun

Examples of CEMENT

1. A win would cement her reputation as a strong competitor.

First Known Use of CEMENT

14th century

ce·ment

noun \si-ˈment\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CEMENT

1

: cementum

2

: a plastic composition made especially of zinc or silica for filling dental cavities

cement

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Agent that binds concrete and mortar. Cements are finely ground powders that, when mixed with water, set to a hard mass. The cement of 2,000 years ago was a mixture of ash and lime. Volcanic ash mined near the city of Puteoli (now Pozzuoli), near Naples, was particularly rich in essential aluminosilicate minerals, giving rise to the pozzolana cement of the Roman era. See also portland cement.