cement

noun

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ce·ment | \ si-ˈment

also ˈsē-ment \

Definition of cement

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : 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: such 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

cement

verb

cemented; cementing; cements

Definition of cement (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to unite or make firm by or as if by cement Pebbles were cemented together by clay. has cemented his role as a leader on the team— T. W. Smith

2 : to overlay with concrete cemented the cellar floor

intransitive verb

: to become cemented

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Examples of cement in a Sentence

Noun There is a layer of cement under the bricks. what kind of cement works best on glass and pottery? Verb A win would cement her reputation as a strong competitor.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Now the cement walls peel with black and gray scars. — BostonGlobe.com, "Secrets in the sky," 13 Jan. 2021 That helped Pelosi cement support for winning the Speaker's gavel from younger progressives seen as potential defectors. — Andrew Taylor, ajc, "Democrats tighten control with House rules changes," 4 Jan. 2021 To remove sticker residue from matte surfaces, patrons should use a rubber-cement eraser available at art supply or office supply stores. — Chris Smith | Contributing Writer, NOLA.com, "Listen up: Covid brings an increase in audiobook demand at Jeff Library," 31 Dec. 2020 But the remaining cement core with the elevator shaft remained intact and sank about 30 to 40 feet into the basement. — Nataly Keomoungkhoun, Dallas News, "In a year of negative news, ‘Leaning Tower of Dallas’ tilted toward the positive," 30 Dec. 2020 Intermittently iced, his body has lain for six days in the Saint Grimaud morgue, a cement storeroom behind the police station, and is, as the consulate delicately puts it, in a deteriorated condition. — Andrea Lee, The New Yorker, "The Rivals," 28 Dec. 2020 Everyone wants to slap together a house and glue the pieces in place with the snow-white confection called royal icing, but that edible cement simply takes too long to dry. — Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, "How to build a gingerbread house that won’t fall apart," 25 Dec. 2020 Anas joined the group of boys streaming out of the dormitory and toward the compound’s cement walls. — Joe Parkinson, WSJ, "Kidnapped Nigerian Schoolboys Say Ransom Was Paid, Tell of Beatings," 23 Dec. 2020 The cement structure is adorned with wreaths and surrounded by small Christmas trees. — Dahleen Glanton, chicagotribune.com, "Column: In some neighborhoods, Santa is a volunteer kids see every day," 23 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The deal helped cement Facebook’s dominance in messaging. — Deepa Seetharaman, WSJ, "Facebook Antitrust Lawsuits: What Do the Cases Mean for the Social-Media Giant?," 9 Dec. 2020 And even after a vaccine is widely available and the crisis ebbs presumably next year, Sergio’s can cement a reputation as a mecca for outdoor dining and events, Gazitua says. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "Restaurants and stores are struggling to survive amid COVID-19. So why are many boosting spending, hiring workers?," 13 Nov. 2020 In the United States, where transportation comprises a hefty portion of emissions, an economic stimulus geared toward investing in alternative transportation and infrastructure could cement in a continued decline in fossil fuels. — Ula Chrobak, Popular Science, "The pandemic led to a record drop in carbon emissions," 16 Dec. 2020 Observers of the move believe its part of an effort for President Trump to cement his hardline stance against China while also cornering President-elect Joe Biden to holding the line. — Siraj Hashmi, Washington Examiner, "White House Weekly: December 15," 15 Dec. 2020 In some ways, Jayapal said, some segments of the community are only just beginning to cement their place in the political ecosystem, especially since the electorate’s diversity makes its political legacy difficult to capture and unify. — NBC News, "Asian American lawmakers celebrate Harris as VP-elect, call for more progress," 10 Nov. 2020 National Audubon Society chief conservation officer Sarah Greenberger criticized the agency for pressing ahead with a rule change that would cement the policy into a regulation that could be harder to overturn. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "U.S. wildlife officials aim to remove wolf protections in 2020," 1 Sep. 2020 National Audubon Society chief conservation officer Sarah Greenberger criticized the agency for pressing ahead with a rule change that would cement the policy into a regulation that could be harder to overturn. — John Flesher And Matthew Brown, Detroit Free Press, "US wildlife officials aim to remove gray wolf protections by end of 2020," 1 Sep. 2020 This season’s edition of the Mean Green will have a chance to further cement their legacy by picking up UNT’s fourth bowl win. — Brett Vito, Denton Record-Chronicle, "From game cancellations to players being held out, UNT overcame a lot to earn bowl berth," 18 Dec. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

23 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Cement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cement. Accessed 27 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for cement

cement

noun

English Language Learners Definition of cement

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a soft gray powder that is mixed with water and other substances to make concrete

: the hard substance that is made when cement is mixed with water and allowed to dry

: a substance that is used to make things stick together

cement

verb

English Language Learners Definition of cement (Entry 2 of 2)

: to join (things) together with cement

: to make (something) stronger

See the full definition for cement in the English Language Learners Dictionary

cement

noun

ce·ment | \ si-ˈment

Kids Definition of cement

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a powder that is made mainly from compounds of aluminum, calcium, silicon, and iron heated together and then ground and mixed with water to make mortar and concrete

2 : concrete entry 2, mortar

3 : a substance used to make things stick together firmly

cement

verb

cemented; cementing

Kids Definition of cement (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to join together with or as if with cement There were sheets of ice … cementing the tops of the hemlocks in arches.— Jean Craighead George, My Side of the Mountain

2 : to make stronger The experience cemented their friendship.

cement

noun

ce·ment | \ si-ˈment