: 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
: to treat or coat with zinc : galvanize
Examples of zinc in a Sentence
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
Old cars and appliances, batteries, and gasoline vapors release cadmium, lead and zinc into the air and soil, the heavy metals and toxic particulates making their way towards dozens of schools, health care centers and my neighbors’ homes.
—Brian Beveridge, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
The company's zinc-iodide flow battery technology addresses what Michaelson sees as lithium-ion's limitations for stationary storage.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But a very small study from 2019 found that people with diets rich in zinc and nicotinic acid may be less susceptible to their symptoms.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zinc
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Noun
Enhance Soil Fertility Rely on the soil sample analysis to determine the levels of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, and boron in your soil.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
Old cars and appliances, batteries, and gasoline vapors release cadmium, lead and zinc into the air and soil, the heavy metals and toxic particulates making their way towards dozens of schools, health care centers and my neighbors’ homes.
—Brian Beveridge, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
The company's zinc-iodide flow battery technology addresses what Michaelson sees as lithium-ion's limitations for stationary storage.
—Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
But a very small study from 2019 found that people with diets rich in zinc and nicotinic acid may be less susceptible to their symptoms.
—Jamie Ducharme, Health, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zinc
Cite this Entry
“Zinc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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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
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