enamel
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enamel¹
- /ɪˈnæməl/ US, UK
Rhymes with -æməl
Where it comes from
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”).
noun enamels
- An opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects.
- A coating that dries to a hard, glossy finish. Against the fence, in a line, were six chipped-enamel slop jars holding brilliant red geraniums, cared for as tenderly as if they belonged to Miss Maudie Atkinson
- The hard covering on the exposed part of a tooth.
- A cosmetic intended to give the appearance of a smooth and beautiful complexion.
enamel²
- /ɪˈnæməl/ US, UK
Rhymes with -æməl
Where it comes from
From Middle English enamelen, from the noun (see above).
verb enamels · enameling · enamelling · enameled · enamelled
- To coat or decorate with enamel. Their plumed helmes are wrought with beaten golde, Their ſwords enameld, and about their neckes Hangs maſſie chaines of golde downe to the waſte, In euery part exceding braue and rich.
- To variegate with colours, as if with enamel. Oft he [the serpent] bowed / His turret crest and sleek enamelled neck.
- To form a glossy surface like enamel upon. to enamel card paper; to enamel leather or cloth
- To disguise with cosmetics, as a woman's complexion.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: tooth enamel, paint, port, alkyd, thing, lacquer, coating, finish, gloss, glaze, varnish, patina, luster, covering, sheen, shellac
Translations
Every language
noun opaque, glassy coating baked onto metal or ceramic objects
| Español | esmalte, enlozado |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 琺瑯 hōrō |
| 中文 | 琺瑯 /珐琅 fàláng |
| Português | esmalte |
| Français | émail, glaçure |
| Deutsch | Email, Emaille |
| Italiano | smalto, lacca |
| Ελληνικά | έγκαυστον égkafston, σμάλτο smálto, εμαγιέ emagié |
| Română | smalț |
| Русский | эма́ль emálʹ |
noun covering on the tooth
| Español | esmalte |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 琺瑯質 hōrōshitsu, エナメル質 enamerushitsu |
| 中文 | 琺瑯質 /珐琅质 fàlángzhì |
| Kiswahili | enameli |
| Português | esmalte |
| Français | émail |
| Deutsch | Zahnschmelz, Schmelz |
| Italiano | smalto |
| Ελληνικά | αδαμαντίνη adamantíni |
| Română | smalț |
| Русский | эма́ль emálʹ |
| العربية | مِينَاء mīnāʔ |
verb to coat with enamel
| Español | esmaltar |
|---|---|
| Português | esmaltar |
| Français | émailler |
| Deutsch | emaillieren, schmalten |
| Italiano | smaltare |
| Ελληνικά | βερνικώνω vernikóno, επισμαλτώνω epismaltóno |
| Русский | эмалирова́ть emalirovátʹ |
| עברית | זיגג zigég |
Talk about this word "enamel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/enamel. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. enamel. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/enamel "enamel." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/enamel.Cite this
@misc{enamel_2026,
title = {enamel},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/enamel},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
