enamel

verb enam·el \ i-ˈna-məl \

|Updated on: 28 May 2018

Examples: enamel in a Sentence

Definition of enamel

enameled or enamelled; enameling or enamelling play \i-ˈnam-liŋ, -ˈna-mə-\

transitive verb

1 : to cover, inlay, or decorate with enamel

2 : to beautify with a colorful surface

3 : to form a glossy surface on (a material, such as paper, leather, or cloth)

—

enameler

noun

—

enamelist

play \i-ˈna-mə-list\ noun

See enamel defined for kids

Recent Examples of enamel from the Web

The first, second and third bases shall be canvas bags painted white and filled with sand or sawdust, the home base and pitchers point to be each marked by a flat circular iron plate painted or enamelled white.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "The long-lost ‘Laws of Base Ball,’ and one fan’s outsize bid to get them," 18 May 2018
For picnics and road trips, these stackable enameled stainless steel bowls are portability at its chicest.

— zoë sessums, Bon Appetit, "The Best Kitchen Products to Buy at Anthropologie’s Spring Sale," 6 Apr. 2018
Le Creuset’s classic enameled cast iron Dutch ovens are great for braises, baking bread, and even weeknight pasta.

— melissa minton, Bon Appetit, "Le Creuset to Release New 7-Piece Stainless Steel Collection," 15 Mar. 2018
Photo: Brett Beyer Photography for Bis Bis (2) CRACKLED Lisa Nemrow, a principal of Un-Gyve Group, Boston, uses enameled lava for its durability and stain resistance.

— nancy keates, WSJ, "The Versatile Volcanic Rock That’s Showing Up in Home Décor," 8 Mar. 2018
The new Clover Cocotte is made with Le Creuset's signature enameled cast iron, which is great for retaining and dispersing heat throughout the whole pot while cooking.

— madison alcedo, Country Living, "Le Creuset Just Released a Clover-Shaped Dutch Oven for St. Patrick's Day," 6 Feb. 2018
Prices: Custom enameled basins, $5,000 to $15,000; tiles, $50 to 100 per square foot; countertops, $200 to $400 per square foot, all from Bis Bis, a division of the Un-Gyve Group.

— nancy keates, WSJ, "The Versatile Volcanic Rock That’s Showing Up in Home Décor," 8 Mar. 2018
Terry leans his long frame over the white enameled counter and shares his dreams and delights with the customers.

— debbi snook, cleveland.com, "Ora Bell's: Southern food stand joins Cleveland's West Side Market (photos, video)," 1 Nov. 2017
The sloping 3½-quart enameled cast iron vessel is extremely versatile and can cook paellas, risottos, frittatas, clams or mussels, in addition to braising meats and poultry.

— florence fabricant, New York Times, "Heavyweight Pot for Holiday Entertaining," 16 Oct. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of enamel

Middle English, from Anglo-French enameller, from en- + asmal, esmal enamel, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German smelzan to melt — more at smelt

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

enamel

noun

Definition of enamel

1 : a usually opaque vitreous composition applied by fusion to the surface of metal, glass, or pottery

2 : a surface or outer covering that resembles enamel

3 a : something that is enameled

b : enamelware

4 : a cosmetic intended to give a smooth or glossy appearance

5 : a hard calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth — see tooth illustration

6 : a paint that flows out to a smooth coat when applied and that dries with a glossy appearance

See enamel defined for English-language learners

Examples of enamel in a Sentence

The tea set is decorated with enamel.
an artist who works with enamels
The museum has a fine collection of enamels.

Recent Examples of enamel from the Web

The brand, launched in 1948, is known for animal jewels with lifelike faces — tiger rings with emerald eyes and black enamel stripes, a frog bracelet with twin heads and ruby eyes, an Elizabeth Taylor lion necklace made of pearls.

— kara baskin, BostonGlobe.com, "Want to shop for jewelry Liz Taylor sought?," 10 May 2018
My mother had a backscratcher that was black enamel bamboo and at one end was a realistic hand with long fake fingernails.

— lisa scottoline, Philly.com, "I've got an itch to scratch | Lisa Scottoline," 3 May 2018
These methods can be applied to such things as tooth enamel and rocks that had been heated, like quartz found in sediment.

— ashley strickland, CNN, "Humans were in Philippines thousands of years before previously thought," 2 May 2018
New Yorker Roxanne Assoulin’s French bistro chair-inspired, black-and-white tile enamel stretch Bistro bracelets come solo or in threes.

— janet kinosian, latimes.com, "What's black and white and stylish all over? These items that will add pop to your wardrobe," 7 Mar. 2018
The thinner the enamel, the more likely the yellowish dentin shows through.

— jill u. adams, Washington Post, "Here’s what it takes to whiten teeth," 28 Apr. 2018
The top and handle are painted in the traditional black, in enamel.

— carlos frias, miamiherald, "Is this Cuban coffee Cafetera Ring the most-Miami way to ask her to marry you? | Miami Herald," 24 Apr. 2018
Among the standouts: poplin shirts with adjustable sleeves, enamel jewelry and palm-print bags.

— kavita daswani, latimes.com, "Boston-based sneaker boutique Bodega brings its hide-and-seek retail to downtown L.A.," 6 Apr. 2018
Sam Smith found an enamel white rose pin to decorate his lapel.

— colleen kratofil, PEOPLE.com, "Will Stars Wear Black to the Oscars? How Celebrities Are Supporting Time's Up," 4 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of enamel

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

ENAMEL Defined for English Language Learners

enamel

noun

Definition of enamel for English Language Learners

: a material like colored glass that is heated until it is liquid and then used to decorate the surface of metal, glass, or pottery
: something decorated with enamel
: the very hard outer layer of a tooth

ENAMEL Defined for Kids

enamel

verb enam·el \ i-ˈna-məl \

Definition of enamel for Students

enameled or enamelled; enameling or enamelling

: to cover or decorate with a smooth hard glossy coating

enamel a pot

enamel

noun

Definition of enamel for Students

1 : a glassy substance used to coat the surface of metal, glass, and pottery

2 : the hard outer surface of the teeth

3 : a paint that dries to form a hard glossy coat

Medical Dictionary

enamel

noun enam·el \ in-ˈam-əl \

medical Definition of enamel

: the intensely hard calcareous substance that forms a thin layer partly covering the teeth of many vertebrates including humans, is the hardest substance of the animal body, and consists of minute prisms secreted by ameloblasts, arranged at right angles to the surface, and bound together by a cement substance — compare cementum, dentin