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
Context: Startups have struggled to develop sustainable alternatives that can compete on cost with cement and other legacy materials. Alan Neuhauser, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024 Climate change, while a risk to their portfolios and clients, presents a vast commercial opportunity through funding deals in everything from renewables to low-carbon cement and retrofitting buildings. Sydney Lake, Fortune Europe, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
Her sixth album, Lemonade, released two months later, cemented this shift. Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 The internet fell in love with his dapper short haircut, and this matching outfit with Zendaya is only further cementing his fashion icon status. Kleigh Balugo, StyleCaster, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for cement 

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 31 Oct. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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