Meanings
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1
noun
the hard, white outer covering of the crown of a tooth
Acidic drinks can gradually damage tooth enamel.
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2
noun
a glassy decorative or protective coating fused onto metal, glass, or pottery
The copper bowl was decorated with blue enamel.
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3
noun
a paint that dries to form a hard, smooth, glossy surface
They coated the cabinet with white enamel.
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4
verb
to coat, decorate, or protect a surface with enamel
The artisan enamelled the silver pendant in vivid green.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English enamel and Anglo-Norman enamailler, related to Old French esmailler, 'to enamel.' The French forms derive from esmal, 'enamel,' through Medieval Latin smaltum from a Germanic root meaning 'to melt or smelt,' reflecting how glassy enamel is fused by heat.