tungsten carbide

noun

: a compound of tungsten and carbon

especially : a fine very hard crystalline gray powder WC made by heating tungsten or tungsten trioxide with carbon at a high temperature and usually bonded with cobalt or nickel in cemented carbide compositions especially for cutting tools, abrasives, and dies

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!