enamel

verb

enam·el | \ i-ˈna-məl

enameled or enamelled; enameling or enamelling\ i-ˈnam-liŋ

, -ˈna-mə- \

Definition of enamel

(Entry 1 of 2)

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)

enamel

noun

Definition of enamel (Entry 2 of 2)

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

3a : 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

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Examples of enamel in a Sentence

Noun

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

That's a savings of $180, or a whopping 70% off quality enameled cookware that looks just like French stuff. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "Cuisinart Cast Iron Skillets Are More Than 70% Off on Amazon Today," 15 Aug. 2018 The freestanding bathtub is made by Agape, based in Mantua, Italy, and is available in two sizes—standard and small—and two finishes: all white or with a white interior and enameled dark exterior. — Karen Bruno, WSJ, "Homeowners Discover (Again) the Luxury of Soaking Tubs," 14 June 2018 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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Joan talks to Jayme about sealants, fluoride, and enamel and tells her about a dental office that provides free cleanings to kids under 6. — Tracy Saelinger, Woman's Day, "This Nurse Helps New Moms When They're Most Vulnerable," 8 Jan. 2019 Professional fluoride treatments help remineralize your teeth when plaque has damaged that protective enamel, Mark S. Wolff, D.D.S., Ph.D., dean at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, tells SELF. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is It Actually Possible to Get Rid of Cavities Without Fillings?," 17 Oct. 2018 Most of these are enamel or tin, some come with tiny pots and pans, and most are from different flea markets in Europe. — Karen Berkowitz, chicagotribune.com, "Shout Out: Francesca Kelly, mass yard sale organizer," 6 July 2018 Minter’s eponymous exhibition will feature several large-scale works, including her iconic enamel-on-metal, photo-realistic paintings, as well as photographs and one video. — Mary Dellas, The Cut, "Marilyn Minter’s New Works Will Show in Los Angeles," 15 May 2018 Why go for black enamel on the front instead of stainless steel? — Christine Pittel, House Beautiful, "Designing a Modern Kitchen," 22 May 2014 The wall paint is custom, and the balcony screens are wooden moucharaby painted in black enamel. — Gisela Williams, ELLE Decor, "The Vivacious 18th-Century Marakesh Medina of Two L.A. Transplants," 28 Dec. 2018 That’s a very different landscape from today’s dunes of reddish sand, and the ratios of oxygen-18 to other oxygen isotopes in the tooth enamel of the Ti’s al Ghadah fossils suggest a much wetter climate in the Nefud of 300,000 years ago. — Kiona N. Smith, Ars Technica, "Archaeologists find 300,000-year-old stone tools in Saudi Arabia," 29 Oct. 2018 But this new breed of jewelers—five of whom are represented in this portfolio—dares to carve Kashmir sapphires into aluminum rings, set Golcondas in bright pink enamel, and create cauliflower brooches in fine diamonds. — Stellene Volandes, Town & Country, "The Secret Global Network of Private Super Jewelers," 20 Sep. 2018

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.

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Last Updated

5 Feb 2019

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Time Traveler for enamel

The first known use of enamel was in the 14th century

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More Definitions for enamel

enamel

noun

English Language Learners Definition of enamel

: 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

See the full definition for enamel in the English Language Learners Dictionary

enamel

verb

enam·el | \ i-ˈna-məl

enameled or enamelled; enameling or enamelling

Kids Definition of enamel

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to cover or decorate with a smooth hard glossy coating enamel a pot

enamel

noun

Kids Definition of enamel (Entry 2 of 2)

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

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