Word
copper
Phoneticscop·per, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑpɝ/
UK/kˈɒpɐ/
Definitions
01the metal
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun Science
n. a soft, reddish-brown metal that allows electricity and heat to pass through it easily.
n. a ductile, malleable metallic element (symbol Cu) with high thermal and electrical conductivity.
“Most electrical wires in your home are made of copper because it is a great conductor.”
“The price of copper fluctuated wildly on the global market as industrial demand for new infrastructure increased throughout the decade.”
02police officer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English · Informal · Slang
n. a slang word for a police officer.
n. a colloquial term for a police officer, primarily used in British and Australian English.
Español:paco
“The thief ran down the alley when he saw a copper coming around the corner.”
“He spent half his life dodging coppers in the East End before finally deciding to go straight and open a legitimate business.”
Synonyms
03the color
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. a reddish-brown color like the metal copper.
n. a reddish-brown hue resembling the appearance of polished or weathered copper metal.
“The autumn leaves turned a beautiful shade of copper before falling to the ground.”
“The interior designer recommended accents of copper and deep teal to create a warm, sophisticated atmosphere in the study.”
Synonyms
04made of or colored like copper
B1 · Intermediate
adj. made of copper or having a reddish-brown color.
adj. composed of the element copper or possessing its characteristic reddish-brown color.
Español:cobrizo
“She wore a copper bracelet that she bought at the local craft market.”
“The building was topped with a copper roof that had developed a distinctive green patina over decades of exposure to the elements.”
Synonyms
05to cover with copper
C2 · Proficiency Technology Technical · Formal
v. to cover something with a thin layer of copper.
v. to coat, plate, or sheathe an object with a layer of copper.
“The artist decided to copper the bottom of the sculpture to protect it from water.”
“The hull was coppered to prevent the growth of marine organisms and to protect the timber from wood-boring worms during long voyages.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “copper” in context.
Verb
01. conduct electricity through copper
“It is highly efficient to conduct electricity through copper due to its low resistance.”
verb + noun + prep + noun
02. extract copper
“New technologies have made it more efficient to extract copper from low-grade ore.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. burnished copper
“The sunset reflected off the dome, making it glow like burnished copper.”
adj + noun
04. recycled copper
“The company sources recycled copper to reduce the environmental impact of their electronics.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. copper deposits
“Geologists discovered significant copper deposits deep within the mountain range.”
noun + noun
06. copper piping
“The plumber recommended replacing the old lead pipes with modern copper piping.”
noun + noun
07. copper wiring
“Thieves targeted the construction site to steal the expensive copper wiring.”
noun + noun
08. trace of copper
“The lab analysis revealed a tiny trace of copper in the water sample.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“This early photography technique produced a single, one-of-a-kind image on a silver-coated piece of copper treated with light-sensitive chemicals.” “Where SO-DIMMs have copper contacts across the bottom edge that go into a slot, CAMM has copper contacts spread across one entire side.” Etymology
The noun is inherited from Middle English coper, copper (“copper ore; copper metal; bronze”), from Old English coper, copor (“copper”), from Late Latin cuprum (“copper”), a contraction of Latin aes Cyprium (literally “Cyprian brass or copper”), ultimately from Ancient Greek Κῠ́προς (Kŭ́pros, “Cyprus”) (a major source of copper during the Near East’s Bronze Age), from the name of a Northwest Semitic goddess from the root כ־ב־ר/ك ب ر (k b r) (“related to being big, large; great; or old”). Doublet of kobo. The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. The verb is also derived from the noun. cognates * Dutch koper (“copper”) * German Kupfer (“copper”) * Icelandic kopar (“copper”)
The noun is probably derived from cop (“(informal, dated) to arrest or capture (someone)”) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns), although cop is attested slightly later. The verb is derived from the noun.
From cop (“ball of thread wound on to a spindle in a spinning machine”) + -er (suffix denoting things relating to the words to which the suffix is attached to).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/copper
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0