Main Entry:

¹cop·per

Pronunciation:

\ˈkä-pər\

Function:

noun

Usage:

often attributive

Etymology:

Middle English coper, from Old English, from Late Latin cuprum copper, from Latin (aes) Cyprium, literally, Cyprian metal

Date:

before 12th century

1: a common reddish metallic element that is ductile and malleable and is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity — see element table2: a coin or token made of copper or bronze3chiefly British : a large boiler (as for cooking)4: any of a subfamily (Lycaeninae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings