cement

1 of 2

noun

ce·​ment si-ˈment How to pronounce cement (audio)
 also  ˈsē-ment
1
a
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 togetherR. M. Hutchins
3
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

2 of 2

verb

cemented; cementing; cements

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 teamT. W. Smith
2
: to overlay with concrete
cemented the cellar floor
cementer noun

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
Estimates like these are based on standard measures of, for instance, how much carbon dioxide is produced by the amount of cement used in new buildings. Catherine Porter, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2024 Greenhouse gases from the eight plants that produced nearly all of the state’s cement increased by 26% from 2011 to 2021. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2024 The contractor drilled holes and mixed a slurry of cement and soil — creating little piers, about 20 feet deep, in the foundation. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2024 But now Hong is honored twice on the iconic sidewalk: with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and with his hands and feet immortalized in cement at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 Their posts must be installed into the ground or bolted into a cement base. Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 Dental Solutions provides a comprehensive suite of dental and orthodontic products, including brackets, aligners, restorative cements, bonding agents, products designed for preventative dental care, direct and indirect restoration, and broad orthodontic needs. Joe Cornell, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 Traditional cement is made by crushing limestone and other materials, later heating them to blistering temperatures hotter than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The Arizona Republic, 5 Mar. 2024 An image accompanying the tweet shows the futuristic electric vehicle lifted onto the grassy elevated cement outside the hotel. Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
His eighth victory on the PGA Tour and second in a matter of days after a dominant win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week, Scheffler’s place as the dominant force in the men’s game is further cemented by an unprecedented defense of golf’s ‘fifth major’. Jack Bantock, CNN, 17 Mar. 2024 This decade may see several triumphant lunar landings, but the gas stations will cement our status as an advanced spacefaring species. Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2024 Known as Ramses the Great, the pharaoh’s legacy was cemented by a slew of monuments and statues constructed in his name, both during and after his reign. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2024 Trump's path to the General Election was cemented after his victory in Hawaii's Republican presidential caucuses. USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2024 This archetype was cemented the following year by two more Oscar nominations. Mark Harris Rf. Alvarez, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2024 Florida has firmly cemented itself in recent years as ground zero for the nation’s culture wars. Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Although, Ambani sporting different jaw-dropping timepieces these past few days has cemented the watch as a new, integral part of the Indian wedding. Rebecca Suhrawardi, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 Scores of visitors make the pilgrimage each spring for Memphis in May International Festival, but the historic city has cemented its year-round appeal with newer additions like multi-use development Crosstown Concourse and an ever-growing culinary scene. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cement.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cement was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cement

Cite this Entry

“Cement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cement. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cement

1 of 2 noun
ce·​ment si-ˈment How to pronounce cement (audio)
1
a
b
: a fine powder that is produced from a burned mixture chiefly of clay and limestone and used as an ingredient of mortar and concrete
2
a
: a binding element or substance
b
: an adhesive substance
3
a
b
: a material for filling cavities in teeth

cement

2 of 2 verb
1
: to unite by or as if by cement
cemented their friendship
2
: to cover with concrete
cementer noun

Medical Definition

cement

noun
ce·​ment si-ˈment How to pronounce cement (audio)
1
2
: a plastic composition made especially of zinc or silica for filling dental cavities

More from Merriam-Webster on cement

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