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enamel

[ih-nam-uhl]

noun

a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc., as an ornament or for protection.

enamelware.

any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.

any enamellike surface with a bright luster.

an artistic work executed in enamel.

EXPAND

Dentistry. the hard, glossy, calcareous covering of the crown of a tooth, containing only a slight amount of organic substance.

COLLAPSE

verb (used with object)

to inlay or overlay with enamel.

to form an enamellike surface upon: to enamel cardboard.

to decorate as with enamel; variegate with colors.

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Enamel is always a great word to know.

So is cementum. Does it mean:

bonelike tissue that forms the outer surface of the root of the tooth

various glands that discharge a fluid secretion and especially saliva into the mouth cavity

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Origin:
1275–1325; Middle English enamelen < Anglo-French enameler, enamailler, equivalent to en- en-¹ + -amaler, derivative of asmal, esmal enamel, Old French esmail (-al taken as the suffix -ail) < Old Low Franconian *smalt- something melted, cognate with German Schmalz fat; akin to smelt¹; compare smalto

Related forms

e·nam·el·er; especially British, e·nam·el·ler, noun

e·nam·el·ist; especially British, e·nam·el·list, noun

e·nam·el·work, noun

un·e·nam·eled, adjective

un·e·nam·elled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To enamel

Example Sentences

It strengthens the protective enamel of teeth, but only while the teeth are developing in the jaws.

Often the enamel shrinks, and a second application and firing is needed to fill the cloisons completely.

Gleaming enamel ornaments for the holidays and year-round.

EXPAND

It strengthens the protective enamel of teeth, but only while the teeth are developing in the jaws.

Often the enamel shrinks, and a second application and firing is needed to fill the cloisons completely.

Gleaming enamel ornaments for the holidays and year-round.

Oh, and it too is available in bright and cheery colors, with enamel coatings available from some makers.

The pattern of lines etched into the enamel at growth intervals resembled that of a modern child.

She painted the oven doors periwinkle blue then touched up knobs and dials in a bright orange enamel paint.

Fluoride protects tooth enamel but is nevertheless toxic, even potentially lethal, in concentrated form.

Some dentists suspect that constant bleaching may cause permanent damage to tooth enamel and gum tissue.

The height of the molar crowns increased, as did the number of enamel plates in the molars, and the tooth enamel thinned.

Some copies now mineralize other tissues, such as the enamel of our teeth.

Tooth decay occurs when the bacteria that line the teeth feed on simple sugars, creating acid that destroys enamel.

The back and forth between the two groups of researchers extends to other features, such as tooth enamel and facial features.

Hwang works on dinosaur tooth enamel microstructure and has also contributed to the description of a few new theropods.

Horn combs sprout enamel embellished wisteria, anemones and lilies of the valley.

The marks were cut deep into the enamel and occurred often in pairs or triplets.

Many of his brother's teeth were capped to replace enamel that was eaten away.

Then, have them form river channels and coat with blue enamel paint and color the land with tempera paint.

Women's watches at the salon saw precious stones take a back seat to enamel and marquetry.

Put crayons of the same color in a small saucepan or enamel cooking pot.

The excess fluoride can cause mottling of the enamel of their permanent teeth.

Republic were temporarily stored in a white enamel chamber pot.

Her father is a retired architectural porcelain enamel manufacturer.

Enamel fluorosis occurs only when teeth are exposed to too much fluoride while they are developing under the gums.

The standard care is to cut back the gums, clean the pockets and remove tartar from the enamel below the gum line.

She has a white enamel vintage stove, a few inches of countertop and a sink.

Also includes weapons, enamel and ivory works and porcelain.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

enamel (ɪˈnæməl)

—n
1.	a coloured glassy substance, translucent or opaque, fused to the surface of articles made of metal, glass, etc, for ornament or protection
2.	an article or articles ornamented with enamel
3.	an enamel-like paint or varnish
4.	any smooth glossy coating resembling enamel
5.	another word for nail polish
6.	the hard white calcified substance that covers the crown of each tooth
7.	(modifier)
	a. decorated or covered with enamel: an enamel ring
	b. made with enamel: enamel paste

—vb , -els, -elling, -elled, -els, -eling, -eled
8.	to inlay, coat, or otherwise decorate with enamel
9.	to ornament with glossy variegated colours, as if with enamel
10.	to portray in enamel

[C15: from Old French esmail, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German smalz lard; see smelt¹]

e'nameller

—n

e'namellist

—n

e'nameler

—n

e'namelist

—n

e'namelwork

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

enamel

early 14c., from Anglo-Fr. enamailler, from en- "in" + amailler "to enamel," variant of O.Fr. esmailler, from esmail "enamel," from Frank. *smalt, from P.Gmc. *smaltjan "to smelt." Related: Enameled; enameling.

American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

enamel e·nam·el (ĭ-nām'əl)
n.
The hard, calcareous substance covering the exposed portion of a tooth.

American Heritage

Science Dictionary

enamel (ĭ-nām'əl) Pronunciation Key
The hard, translucent substance covering the exposed portion of a tooth in mammals. Enamel is the hardest substance in the body, and consists mostly of calcium salts.

American Heritage

Cultural Dictionary

enamel definition

The hard, white substance that covers the crown of a tooth.

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blackplate bleu-de-roi bonderize bonding borax Canton enamel

Slang

pray to the enamel god

Matching Quote

"Among all the emotions, the rich have the least talent for love. It is possible to love one's dog, dress or duck-shooting hat, but a human being presents a more difficult problem. The rich might wish to experience feelings of affection, but it is almost impossible to chip away the enamel of their narcissism. They take up all the space in all the mirrors in the house. Their children, who represent the most present and therefore the most annoying claim on their attention, usually receive the brunt of their irritation."

-Lewis H. Lapham

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