copper

1 of 3

noun (1)

cop·​per ˈkä-pər How to pronounce copper (audio)
plural coppers
often attributive
1
: a metallic chemical element that is easily formed into sheets and wires and is one of the best known conductors of heat and electricity see Chemical Elements Table
2
: a coin or token made of copper or bronze
3
chiefly British : a large boiler (as for cooking)
4
: any of a subfamily (Lycaeninae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings

copper

2 of 3

verb

coppered; coppering ˈkä-p(ə-)riŋ How to pronounce copper (audio)

transitive verb

: to coat or sheathe with or as if with copper

copper

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural coppers

Examples of copper in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hendrick’s is a blend of two gins made using different stills, a Carter-Head and copper pot, each producing a unique spirit with its own character. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Mar. 2024 Decorative metal options like copper or brass are pricier and require regular polishing to prevent effects from oxidation. Samantha S. Thorpe, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2024 And in a 6-5 vote, a federal appeals court has ruled the Arizona site, sacred to the Apache tribe, can become a copper mine, as my L.A. Times colleague Kevin Rector reports. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Congo is rich in natural resources: rubber, timber, oil, gas, gold, diamonds, copper, lithium, coltan, and cobalt. Amel Mukhtar, Vogue, 5 Mar. 2024 The Forest Service published the final environmental impact statement and draft decision for the copper mine and land swap five days before the end of the Trump administration in January 2021. Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 1 Mar. 2024 De León and Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Johnny Altamirano described how thieves hire unhoused people living in tents to strip copper wire. Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The copper ingot weighs about 45 pounds and likely came from a nearby mine, archaeologists said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 The display garden explodes with bearded and beardless irises in rare colors like pale blue, copper, deep burgundy, and pale peach accented with bright orange and deep purple. Elizabeth Brownfield, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'copper.' 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 (1)

Middle English coper, from Old English, from Late Latin cuprum copper, from Latin (aes) Cyprium, literally, Cyprian metal

Noun (2)

cop entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1846, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of copper was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near copper

Cite this Entry

“Copper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

copper

1 of 2 noun
cop·​per ˈkäp-ər How to pronounce copper (audio)
1
: a reddish metallic element that is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity see element
2
: a copper or bronze coin
3
chiefly British : a large copper kettle or boiler
4
: any of various small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings
coppery
ˈkäp-(ə-)rē
adjective

copper

2 of 2 noun

Medical Definition

copper

noun
cop·​per ˈkäp-ər How to pronounce copper (audio)
often attributive
: a common reddish metallic element that is ductile and malleable and one of the best conductors of heat and electricity
symbol Cu
see Chemical Elements Table
coppery adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on copper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!