foundry

noun found·ry \ ˈfau̇n-drē \

|Updated on: 21 Jun 2018

Definition of foundry

plural foundries

1 : an establishment where founding is carried on

2 : the act, process, or art of casting metals

See foundry defined for English-language learners

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Recent Examples of foundry from the Web

The traces of lead in ancient layers of Arctic ice got there because, somewhere in Europe, a Roman foundry was busy smelting ore.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Greenland ice cores track Roman lead pollution in year-by-year detail," 15 May 2018
The foundry suffered a major fire in 1852, as the volunteer fire department was ill-equipped to deal with the conflagration.

— jeff suess, Cincinnati.com, "Our history: Historic Greenwood Building's place in history," 2 May 2018
Buried beneath the snow on Greenland’s surface, ancient layers of ice hold deposits of lead that originated at mines and foundries in ancient Rome.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "Greenland ice cores track Roman lead pollution in year-by-year detail," 15 May 2018
These aficionados memorize the locations of the best foundries and the ways the companies’ logos changed over the years.

— georgia freedman, Good Housekeeping, "How Cast-Iron Skillets Used To Be Made And Why That Makes Vintage Pans The Best," 14 Dec. 2015
His father worked in a foundry, and the family of 10 squeezed into a small house with one bathroom.

— james r. hagerty, WSJ, "Raymond Neag, Medical-Device Industry Leader, Supported Education," 4 May 2018
In 1832, Greenwood established the Eagle Ironworks foundry along the Miami and Erie Canal (now Central Parkway), which became the largest in the Midwest.

— jeff suess, Cincinnati.com, "Our history: Historic Greenwood Building's place in history," 2 May 2018
The 40-odd five-by-three-foot metal panels, which would be affixed to the concrete wings, were fabricated at a suburban foundry and then shipped to Porcelain Enamel Finishers on West 30th Street.

— jeff huebner, Chicago Reader, "What ever happened to the King Memorial Mural at 43rd and Langley?," 24 Apr. 2018
The foundry melts scrap aluminum and produces high-purity alloys for various industries.

— rick romell, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Mount Pleasant foundry will close, cut 40 jobs," 25 Jan. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of foundry

borrowed from Middle French fondrie, fonderie, from fond-, base of fondre "to cast, ⁵found" + -rie, -erie -ery

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1536

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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FOUNDRY Defined for English Language Learners

foundry

noun

Definition of foundry for English Language Learners

: a building or factory where metals are produced

FOUNDRY Defined for Kids

foundry

noun found·ry \ ˈfau̇n-drē \

Definition of foundry for Students

plural foundries

: a building or factory where metal goods are made

Learn More about foundry

Spanish Central: Translation of foundry Nglish: Translation of foundry for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about foundry

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foundry

Definition of foundry

Recent Examples of foundry from the Web

Origin and Etymology of foundry

FOUNDRY Defined for English Language Learners

foundry

Definition of foundry for English Language Learners

FOUNDRY Defined for Kids

foundry

Definition of foundry for Students

Learn More about foundry

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