copper

1 of 3

noun (1)

cop·​per ˈkä-pər 

plural coppers

often attributive

1

: a metallic chemical element that is easily formed into sheets and wires and is one of the best known conductors of heat and electricity see Chemical Elements Table

2

: a coin or token made of copper or bronze

3

chiefly 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

copper

2 of 3

verb

coppered; coppering ˈkä-p(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

: to coat or sheathe with or as if with copper

copper

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural coppers

: police officer

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• bobby [British]
• bull [slang]
• constable [chiefly British]
• cop
• flatfoot [slang]
• fuzz
• gendarme
• lawman
• officer
• police officer
• policeman
• shamus [slang]

Examples of copper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Rejecting an Industrial Road: The Interior Department is expected to deny permission for a 211-mile industrial road to a large copper deposit through the fragile Alaskan wilderness, handing a victory to environmentalists in an election year. —Coral Davenport, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Since July 2016, Flint's water system has continually tested below action levels for both lead and copper. —Ash-Har Quraishi, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024

Email newsletter | Facebook page Our rating: False The comparison is faulty because the first picture shows a facility that primarily mines copper. —USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024

There are two types of IUDs: copper and progestin-releasing IUDs. —Korin Miller, Health, 20 Apr. 2024

To obtain the copper ore, Resolution will use a method known as block cave mining, in which tunnels are drilled beneath the ore body, and then collapsed, leaving the ore to be moved to a crushing facility. —The Arizona Republic, 15 Apr. 2024

Notably, a serving provides 35% Daily Value (DV) of iron, 35% DV of zinc, 60% DV of magnesium, and 90% DV of copper. —Alexandra Paetow Ms Rdn, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024

The muscular, curved concrete shell, an attention-drawing cipher from the leafy street, is sliced by a series of slender vertical windows and embellished with copper accents. —Mark David, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2024

Don't skip Keweenaw National Historical Park, which pays homage to Calumet's storied copper mining age. —Katy Spratte Joyce, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

cop entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing copper

• chromated copper arsenate
• copper beech
• copper-bottomed
• copper pyrites
• copper sulfate

Kids Definition

copper

1 of 2 noun

cop·​per ˈkäp-ər 

1

: a reddish metallic element that is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity see element

2

: a copper or bronze coin

3

chiefly British : a large copper kettle or boiler

4

: any of various small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings

coppery

ˈkäp-(ə-)rē

adjective

copper

2 of 2 noun

: police officer

Medical Definition

copper

noun

cop·​per ˈkäp-ər 

often attributive

: a common reddish metallic element that is ductile and malleable and one of the best conductors of heat and electricity

—symbol Cu see Chemical Elements Table

coppery

ˈkäp-(ə-)rē 

adjective