ENAMEL (enamelled, enamelling)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: enamelled    , enamelling   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does enamel mean? 

• ENAMEL (noun)
  The noun ENAMEL has 4 senses:

1. hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth

2. a colored glassy compound (opaque or partially opaque) that is fused to the surface of metal or glass or pottery for decoration or protection

3. a paint that dries to a hard glossy finish

4. any smooth glossy coating that resembles ceramic glaze

  Familiarity information: ENAMEL used as a noun is uncommon.

• ENAMEL (verb)
  The verb ENAMEL has 1 sense:

1. coat, inlay, or surface with enamel

  Familiarity information: ENAMEL used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENAMEL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

enamel; tooth enamel

Hypernyms ("enamel" is a kind of...):

solid body substance (the solid parts of the body)

Holonyms ("enamel" is a part of...):

crown (the part of a tooth above the gum that is covered with enamel)

Derivation:

enamel (coat, inlay, or surface with enamel)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A colored glassy compound (opaque or partially opaque) that is fused to the surface of metal or glass or pottery for decoration or protection

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("enamel" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Derivation:

enamel (coat, inlay, or surface with enamel)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A paint that dries to a hard glossy finish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("enamel" is a kind of...):

paint; pigment (a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Any smooth glossy coating that resembles ceramic glaze

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("enamel" is a kind of...):

coat; coating (a thin layer covering something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "enamel"):

nail enamel; nail polish; nail varnish (a cosmetic lacquer that dries quickly and that is applied to the nails to color them or make them shiny)

Derivation:

enamel (coat, inlay, or surface with enamel)

• ENAMEL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they enamel    ... he / she / it enamels   
Past simple: enameled    / enamelled   
Past participle: enameled    / enamelled   
-ing form: enameling    / enamelling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Coat, inlay, or surface with enamel

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "enamel" is one way to...):

adorn; beautify; decorate; embellish; grace; ornament (make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.)

"Enamel" entails doing...:

fire (bake in a kiln so as to harden)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

enamel (any smooth glossy coating that resembles ceramic glaze)

enamel (hard white substance covering the crown of a tooth)

enamel (a colored glassy compound (opaque or partially opaque) that is fused to the surface of metal or glass or pottery for decoration or protection)

 Context examples 

A form of AMELOGENESIS IMPERFECTA characterized by incomplete formation of the dental enamel and transmitted as an X-linked or autosomal dominant trait.

(Enamel Hypoplasia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Presentation of this disorder can range from white streaks to brown stains and cracks or pits in the tooth enamel.

(Dental Fluorosis, NCI Thesaurus)

These proteins are the main component of intermediate filaments in the epidermis, hair, nails, horny tissues, and the organic matrix of tooth enamel.

(Cytokeratin, NCI Thesaurus)

The portion of the tooth covered by enamel.

(Crown, NCI Thesaurus)

A dental restoration completely covering the aspect of the tooth normally covered by enamel.

(Full Crown, NCI Thesaurus)

The inner most layer of the enamel organ.

(Inner Enamel Epithelium, NCI Thesaurus)

A material, usually covered by or impregnated with a drug, that is inserted into a body cavity or between the tooth enamel and the gingival margin.

(Packing Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

A dental restoration incompletely covering the aspect of the tooth normally covered by enamel.

(Partial Crown, NCI Thesaurus)

It is found on the upper part of the bell or cap of the enamel organ of the developing tooth and is composed of cuboidal cells.

(Outer Enamel Epithelium, NCI Thesaurus)

Representative examples include odontoma, enamel hypoplasia, and periodontitis.

(Non-Neoplastic Dental Disorder, NCI Thesaurus)