coffee ring

noun

: coffee cake in the shape of a ring

Examples of coffee ring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The poster featured their exploration of crack patterns in drying droplets, similar to how layers of mud and paint often crack and dry, or the coffee ring effect. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 14 Mar. 2023 The coffee ring effect occurs when a single liquid evaporates and the solids that had been dissolved in the liquid, like coffee grounds, form a telltale ring. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 Dec. 2020 The shape of the droplets is also a factor in the coffee ring effect. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 12 Aug. 2020 The top is scarred with coffee rings, the penny jar never full. oregonlive.com, 16 June 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coffee ring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coffee ring was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near coffee ring

Cite this Entry

“Coffee ring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coffee%20ring. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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