zinc

1 of 2

noun

: a bluish-white metallic element with atomic number 30 that is ductile when pure but in the commercial form is brittle at ordinary temperatures and becomes ductile on slight heating, occurs abundantly in minerals, is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, and is used especially in alloys and as a protective coating in galvanizing iron and steel
often used before another noun
a zinc coating
zinc additives
see Chemical Elements Table

zinc

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verb

zinced or zincked ˈziŋ(k)t How to pronounce zinc (audio) ; zincing or zincking ˈziŋ-kiŋ How to pronounce zinc (audio)

transitive verb

: to treat or coat with zinc : galvanize

Examples of zinc in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
What’s more, while gold is largely mined on its own (sometimes alongside copper and zinc), platinum is often mined along with a group that includes palladium, rhodium and osmium. Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2024 Beans and Lentils Beans and lentils contain many nutrients, including protein, fiber, folate, potassium, iron, and zinc. Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 10 Oct. 2024 Type: Facial massager Specs: Made of aluminum and zinc alloys, the manual, handheld tool has two roller balls to chisel and sculpt the face. Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2024 Soil samples taken from Jordan’s campus show excessive concentrations of lead and zinc, according to authorities. Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for zinc 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'zinc.' 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

German Zink

First Known Use

Noun

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of zinc was in 1651

Dictionary Entries Near zinc

Cite this Entry

“Zinc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

zinc

noun
ˈziŋk
: a bluish white metallic element that is commonly found in minerals and is used especially in alloys and as a protective coating for iron and steel see element

Medical Definition

zinc

noun
: a bluish-white metallic chemical element with atomic number 30 that is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals
symbol Zn
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on zinc

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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