electroplate

electroplate — verb

IPA/ɪˈlektrəpleɪt/
KK[ˌɪlˈɛktrəplˌet]IPA/ɪˈlektrəpleɪt/
  • electroplatepresent simple I / you / we / they
  • electroplateshe / she / it
  • electroplatedpast simple
  • electroplating-ing form

1. to put a very thin coating of one metal onto the surface of another metal object

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to put a very thin coating of one metal onto the surface of another metal object by running an electric current through a liquid that contains the coating metal

Example

The factory electroplated thousands of steel bolts with zinc to stop them from rusting outdoors.

electroplate + object + with + metal

Yara electroplated the old copper ring with a thin layer of gold at her jewellery bench.

Common collocations
  • electroplate with silver
  • electroplate with gold
  • electroplate with nickel
  • electroplate with zinc
  • electroplate with chromium
Synonyms
  • plate

    broader term — plating can be done by methods other than electrolysis

  • galvanize

    specifically coating with zinc to prevent rust, usually by hot-dipping rather than electrolysis

  • coat

    very general; any covering process, not necessarily metal-on-metal or electrical

Antonyms
  • strip

    remove the metal coating from a surface

Grammar Patterns

electroplate + object + with + metal

be electroplated with + metal

Usage Note

Object is always a metal item; the coating metal follows 'with'. Frequently used in the passive voice in technical descriptions.

Common Mistakes

He electroplated gold onto the ring.
He electroplated the ring with gold.
the object being coated comes directly after the verb; the coating metal follows 'with'.

electroplate — noun

IPA/ɪˈlek.trəʊ.pleɪt/
KK[ˌɪlˈɛktrəplˌet]IPA/ɪˈlek.troʊ.pleɪt/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These four words all describe covering a metal with a protective or decorative layer, but they differ in method. Electroplate always uses an electric current passed through a solution (an electrolyte bath), giving a smooth, even coat of one metal onto another. Plate is the broader term — it can be done by electroplating but also by mechanical or chemical means without electricity. Galvanize almost always refers to coating iron or steel with zinc to prevent rust; the typical method is hot-dip galvanising, where the metal is dipped into molten zinc, not electroplated. Anodize is used only for aluminium (and sometimes titanium): an electric current builds up a tough oxide layer from the metal's own surface rather than adding a new metal. So a car part might be galvanised steel, a teapot electroplated with silver, and a laptop case anodised aluminium — three different processes for three different jobs.

electroplate ↗plate ↗galvanize ↗anodize

Common collocations

Nouns

  • electroplate bath
  • electroplate solution
  • electroplate process

Adverbs

  • electrolytically

Phrases

  • electroplate something with silver/gold/nickel

Prepositions

  • electroplate with
  • electroplate onto

Etymology

English

Formed in English in the early 19th century from the prefix electro- ('relating to electricity') combined with plate ('to coat with a thin layer of metal'). The process was first developed commercially around 1840, making it possible to coat inexpensive base metals with silver or gold far more cheaply than using solid precious metal. The noun sense, referring to electroplated household objects, appeared shortly afterwards as the technique became popular for making affordable tableware.