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

Other Words from cement Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing cement Learn More About cement

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 In the space where an IC engine might dwell there is instead the Mega Power Frunk: a 14.1-cubic-foot cargo box with a 400-pound capacity, sufficient to hold eight 50-pound sacks of cement. — Dan Neil, WSJ, 12 May 2022 In this two-hour throwback Thursday edition of Grey’s, Meredith and Derek have one last shot at a successful outcome in their clinical trial as the other surgeons work together to free a boy from a hardening block of cement. — Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 10 Apr. 2022 Ukrainian fighters were blocking parts of the highway with large blocks of cement. — Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2022 During drilling operations, oil companies place cement around the casing, or thick steel pipe, to prevent any hydrocarbons, such as natural gas, from escaping the well, Myers said. — Alex Demarban, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Apr. 2022 Hundreds of volunteers helped build Conny, mixing cement by hand and slapping it on an armature made of wood and chicken wire. — Kenneth R. Gosselin, courant.com, 30 Jan. 2022 Using fiber cement also means that oil doesn’t have to be used to create vinyl and that fewer trees need to be chopped down as compared to wood and composite siding products. — Jennifer Castenson, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2022 Photojournalist Lynsey Addario, who had been huddled behind a cement wall, was sprayed with gravel in the blast, wondering at first if she’d been hit by shrapnel. — Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2022 The street, which wraps around downtown Mobile, has been undergoing a multi-year and $20 million-plus reconstruction that includes the replacement of uneven cement pavement, the addition of pedestrian and bicycle-friendly paths, and other features. — al, 24 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb To cement their hold on power, autocrats love to stage mega-events, none better than the Olympics. — Richard Galant, CNN, 30 Jan. 2022 If there was a time to cement a new relationship with Russia on the basis of respect for its own diminished sphere of influence, that time was the 1990s, when the United States was at the peak of its relative power. — Noah Millman, The Week, 9 Jan. 2022 Ridder has a chance to cement his place alongside the best quarterbacks in Group of Five history by leading Cincinnati to one more win and a spot in the College Football Playoff. — Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 2 Dec. 2021 That show was seen by a then-record audience of 73 million viewers, helping to cement the Beatles' hold on American fandom and culture. — Dan Heching, PEOPLE.com, 24 Nov. 2021 The trip, coming amid declining approval ratings for President Biden and Ms. Harris within the United States, also provided a chance to cement the global profile of the vice president, who has demonstrated aspirations for higher office. — New York Times, 12 Nov. 2021 The embattled opposition groups admit the Kremlin has left them few options or resources ahead of the Sept. 19 election that is widely seen as a key to President Vladimir Putin’s effort to cement his hold on power. — Daria Litvinova, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Sep. 2021 Control of that body is seen as a key part of President Vladimir Putin’s efforts to cement his hold on power heading into the next presidential balloting, scheduled for 2024. — Daria Litvinova, ajc, 14 Sep. 2021 North Korea’s resumption of nuclear brinkmanship reflects a determination to cement its status as a nuclear power and wrest economic concessions from Washington and others from a position of strength, analysts say. — Kim Tong-hyung, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2022 See More

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.

Learn More About cement

Dictionary Entries Near cement

cembra pine

cement

cemental

Statistics for cement

Last Updated

23 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Cement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cement. Accessed 24 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for cement

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