enamel
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the hard, white outer layer that covers and protects your teeth.
n.the hard, highly mineralised substance that forms the outer protective layer of the crown of a tooth.
Simple“Drinking too many sugary sodas can damage the enamel on your teeth.”
In context“Acid erosion can lead to the permanent loss of tooth enamel, exposing the sensitive dentin underneath and increasing the risk of cavities.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a smooth, shiny coating baked onto metal, glass, or clay objects to protect them.
n.an opaque or semi-transparent glassy substance applied to metallic or ceramic surfaces for protection or decoration.
Simple“The blue enamel on the vintage cooking pot was still bright and shiny.”
In context“The artisan applied several layers of vitreous enamel to the copper base before firing it in the kiln at high temperatures.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
n.a type of paint that dries to a very hard, smooth, and shiny finish.
n.a paint that air-dries to a hard, usually glossy, finish, used for coating surfaces that are in outdoor qualities or otherwise subject to wear.
Simple“He used a white enamel paint for the window frames to make them easy to clean.”
In context“The contractor recommended a high-quality exterior enamel for the metal railings to prevent rust and maintain a polished appearance.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
v.to cover something with a hard, shiny layer of enamel.
v.to coat, decorate, or provide a glossy finish to a surface with enamel.
Simple“The jeweler decided to enamel the pendant with a deep red color.”
In context“The process to enamel the dial of a luxury watch requires extreme precision to ensure the surface remains perfectly level and free of bubbles.”
“Repeated vomiting associated with some eating disorders can erode tooth enamel , while higher sugar consumption is associated with greater tooth decay .”
“The pockets are stretched out, some are torn, and it’s permanently stained with old oil-based enamel that will not come off.”
From Middle English enamel, from Anglo-Norman enamailler, from en- (“in-”) + amailler (“to enamel”), variant of Old French esmailler (“to enamel”), from esmal (“enamel”), from Early Medieval Latin smaltum, from Frankish smalt, from Proto-Germanic smeltaną (“to melt, smelt”).
From Middle English enamelen, from the noun (see above).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.