chrome

noun

\ ˈkrōm

Definition of chrome

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : chromium

b : a chromium pigment

2 : something plated with an alloy of chromium

chrome

verb

chromed; chroming

Definition of chrome (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1 : to treat with a compound of chromium (as in dyeing)

2 : chromize

-chrome

noun combining form or adjective combining form

\ ˌkrōm\

Definition of -chrome (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : colored thing heliochrome

2 : coloring matter urochrome

Examples of chrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Perry was with Cody Dean and Theresa Walls in a white Pontiac G6 with chrome rims, said officers. — Cincinnati.com, "Milford Police Department search for endangered missing child," 8 July 2019 The Orange palette has a tropical feel with six mattes and three shades of the brand's famous duo-chrome formulas in vibrant yellows, oranges, and pinks. — Marci Robin, Allure, "Exclusive: Huda Kattan Talks Inspiration and Tips for Huda Beauty’s New Neon Obsessions Palettes," 28 May 2019 Small but comfortable rooms are embellished with elegant details, like chrome light fixtures and Deco mirrors. — Vincent Crampton, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Explore Florida's Volusia County: A streamlined history of the 'The Birthplace of NASCAR'," 6 May 2018 The tropical bamboo tones and textures that accented the white in the apartment's previous incarnation have been supplanted by black and chrome. — Julia Reed, ELLE Decor, "Ralph Lauren's Chic Retreat," 5 Oct. 2010 Two additional bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom with a penny tile floor, dual-sink quartz-topped vanity, chrome faucets, and large shower. — Monica Lander, The Mercury News, "Sponsored: One of a Kind: Single-level Alamo home with detached guesthouse undergoes an incredibly sophisticated update," 24 June 2019 That vehicle was described as a red four-door sedan with a chrome bumper, door handles and accents around the windows. — Matt Peterson, Dallas News, "Street race ends in deadly crash off I-35E overpass in Dallas' Medical District," 22 June 2019 Women shared duo chrome eye shadow palettes and extra bobby pins. — Rachel Syme, New York Times, "The Real Dog Moms of New York City," 14 June 2019 Behind the shiny chrome front bumper, the mounts were almost completely gone. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "The Recurring Heartbreak of Buying Cars on Craigslist," 30 May 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Use these eye and lip crayons as pops of color for eyeliner, smokey eyes, chromed out lips, or a full monochromatic look! — Marci Robin, Allure, "Fenty Beauty Announces Chill Owt Holiday Makeup Collection," 5 Oct. 2018 The result is a big beautiful box, chromed out and leather-padded and severely cushioned and covered all over by the classic Vuitton monogram. — Sam Schube, GQ, "Louis Vuitton’s World Cup Gear Is Once-Every-Four-Years Luxurious," 17 May 2018 Inside, there are ribbons of wood and chromed surfaces, and lots of technology — such as a 12.3-inch screen that displays all manner of information, including a 360-degree exterior view of the car that's beamed from an array of cameras. — Daniel Miller, latimes.com, "The Genesis G90 is a luxurious opening act for the new brand — and definitely not a Hyundai," 11 May 2018 Both body styles wear LED lighting, front and rear, and chromed dual-exhaust tips integrated into the rear bumpers. — Drew Dorian, Car and Driver, "2018 Mercedes-Benz C-class Coupe and Cabriolet," 23 Feb. 2018 The brand also has a dizzying array of polishes that includes cool colors, chromed-out metallics, and funky glitters—all of which are five-free, cruelty-free, and vegan. — Sophia Panych, Allure, "17 Cruelty-Free Brands You Need to Know," 1 Nov. 2017 The company’s new Windows 10 S system, which the company showed off Tuesday, looks like a direct competitor to Chrome OS, the operating system that powers Google’s low-cost Chromebooks. — Hayley Tsukayama, The Denver Post, "Microsoft wants to get its products into your kids’ classrooms," 7 May 2017

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

History and Etymology for chrome

Noun

borrowed from French chrôme, borrowed from Greek chrôma "color" — more at -chrome

Note: Name introduced by the French chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin (1763-1829) in "Du plomb rouge de Sibérie, et expériences sur le nouveau métal qu'il contient," Journal des mines, Messidor, An V [vol. 6, June-July, 1797], pp. 737-60. Vauquelin notes that a word meaning "color"—originally suggested to him by the mineralogist René-Just Haüy—is fitting for the metal not because it has a distinctive color itself, but because the combinations into which it enters with oxygen (as a green oxide and red acid) are remarkable for their colors.

Verb

derivative of chrome entry 1

Noun combining form or adjective combining form

borrowed from Greek -chrōmos "having a color (of the kind specified by the initial element)," adjective derivative of chrōmat-, chrôma "skin, complexion, color," from chrō- (the base of an s-stem *chrowos-, whence chrṓs "surface of the body, skin, flesh, complexion, color," of obscure origin) + -ma, resultative noun suffix

Note: The form *chrowos- is reconstructed on the basis of Mycenaean a-ko-ro-we-e "without spots" (or "of one color"). While chrṓs can be contracted directly from a nominative *chrowṓs, the Homeric accusative chróa, genitive chroós assume *chrowós-a, *chrowos-ós, with hyphaeresis of the second vowel of the stem.