enamel

enamel
enameler; esp. Brit., enameller, n.enamelist; esp. Brit., enamellist, n.enamelwork, n.
/i nam"euhl/, n., v., enameled, enameling or (esp. Brit.) enamelled, enamelling.
n.
1. a glassy substance, usually opaque, applied by fusion to the surface of metal, pottery, etc., as an ornament or for protection.
2. enamelware.
3. any of various varnishes, paints, coatings, etc., drying to a hard, glossy finish.
4. any enamellike surface with a bright luster.
5. an artistic work executed in enamel.
6. Dentistry. the hard, glossy, calcareous covering of the crown of a tooth, containing only a slight amount of organic substance. See diag. under tooth.
v.t.
7. to inlay or overlay with enamel.
8. to form an enamellike surface upon: to enamel cardboard.
9. to decorate as with enamel; variegate with colors.
[1275-1325; ME enamelen < AF enameler, enamailler, equiv. to en- EN-1 + -amaler, deriv. of asmal, esmal enamel, OF esmail (-al taken as the suffix -ail) < Old Low Franconian *smalt- something melted, c. G Schmalz fat; akin to SMELT1; cf. SMALTO]

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tooth
      in anatomy, the hardest tissue of the body, covering part or all of the crown of the tooth in mammals. Enamel, when mature, consists predominantly of apatite crystals containing calcium and phosphate. Enamel is not living and contains no nerves. The thickness and density of enamel vary over the surface of the tooth; it is hardest at the biting edges, or cusps. The enamel of primary teeth is less hard than and only half as thick as that of permanent teeth. Normal enamel may vary in colour from yellow to gray. The surface enamel is harder and less soluble and contains more fluoride than the underlying enamel and is very resistant to caries (q.v.; tooth decay). Two major malformations of enamel may occur: (1) hypoplasia, in which the amount of matrix is insufficient, so that there is a lack of enamel; this may result from infection or malnutrition during development or, in rare instances, from genetic anomaly; (2) hypocalcification, in which there is insufficient calcium and a soft enamel is produced; this may result, for example, from excess fluorine in the diet. See also cementum; dentine.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Enamel — may refer to * Tooth enamel, the hard mineralized surface of teeth; * Vitreous enamel, a smooth, durable coating made of melted and fused glass powder; * Enamel paint, a paint that dries to an especially hard glossy finish, resembling vitreous… …   Wikipedia

  • Enamel — En*am el, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Enameled}or {Enamelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Enameling} or {Enamelling}.] 1. To lay enamel upon; to decorate with enamel whether inlaid or painted. [1913 Webster] 2. To variegate with colors as if with enamel. [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enamel — [e nam′əl, inam′əl] n. [ME < the v.] 1. a glassy, colored, opaque substance fused to surfaces of metals, glass, and pottery as an ornamental or protective coating 2. any smooth, hard, glossy coating or surface like enamel 3. the hard, white,… …   English World dictionary

  • Enamel — En*am el, n. [Pref. en + amel. See {Amel}, {Smelt}, v. t.] 1. A variety of glass, used in ornament, to cover a surface, as of metal or pottery, and admitting of after decoration in color, or used itself for inlaying or application in varied… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enamel — (v.) early 14c., from Anglo Fr. enamailler (early 14c.), from en in (see EN (Cf. en ) (1)) + amailler to enamel, variant of O.Fr. esmailler, from esmal enamel, from Frank. *smalt, from P.Gmc. *smaltjan to smelt (see SMELT …   Etymology dictionary

  • enamel — ► NOUN 1) a coloured opaque glassy substance applied to metal, glass, or pottery for decorative or protective purposes. 2) the hard glossy substance that covers the crown of a tooth. 3) a paint that dries to give a smooth, hard coat. ► VERB… …   English terms dictionary

  • Enamel — En*am el, a. Relating to the art of enameling; as, enamel painting. Tomlinson. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Enamel — En*am el, v. i. To practice the art of enameling. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • enamel — has the forms enamelled, enamelling in BrE and enameled, enameling in AmE …   Modern English usage

  • enamel — [n] paint, often shiny cloisonné, coating, finish, glaze, gloss, japan, lacquer, polish, stain, topcoat, varnish, veneer; concepts 259,260,467 …   New thesaurus

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