zinc

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noun

often attributive
: a bluish-white metallic element 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 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
The nut also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, copper, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, niacin, and folate, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 18 Aug. 2024 Phytates can reduce the absorption of minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and manganese.2 Lectins are found in nearly all foods but most notably in legumes and grains. Aviv Joshua, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024 Thanks to ingredients like charcoal and zinc ricinoleate, any unpleasant smells at home are immediately neutralized. Karina Hoshikawa, refinery29.com, 9 Aug. 2024 For example, whole grains are sources of zinc and magnesium, co-factors in lean mass growth and fat loss. Barbie Cervoni, Health, 5 Aug. 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 8 Sep. 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 crystalline bivalent metallic element of low to intermediate hardness that is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals
symbol Zn
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on zinc

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