enamel
/ɪˈnæml/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈnæml/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈna-məl/ (ame, mw) · /ɪˈnæm.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈnæm.əl/ (ame, ipa)
enamel — noun
- enamelsingular
- enamelsplural
1. a thin, shiny, glass-based layer that is heated so it sticks firmly onto pottery
a thin, shiny, glass-based layer that is heated so it sticks firmly onto pottery, metal, or glass; also an object that has this kind of layer on it
Hana fired the small copper dish in her studio kiln until the blue enamel turned glossy.
the {process} until the {noun} {result} — describing the firing of enamel
The museum displayed a medieval cross covered in red and gold enamel.
covered in [colour] + enamel — typical collocation for decorative work
Rohan inherited a Chinese teapot whose flowers were painted in delicate green enamel.
Tiny cracks had begun to spread across the enamel on the antique pendant.
- glaze
broader term covering any glass-like coating fired onto ceramic; enamel is a specific type of glaze.
- vitreous coating
technical synonym used in industrial or museum contexts.
文法句型
a layer of enamel
decorated with enamel
用法筆記
Uncountable when describing the substance itself; countable when describing a finished decorative object (e.g. 'a fine Japanese enamel').
常見錯誤
2. a kind of paint whose dry surface is smooth and very shiny, often used on metal,
a kind of paint whose dry surface is smooth and very shiny, often used on metal, wood, or model toys
Beatrix repainted the iron gate with black enamel to protect it from the rain.
repaint [object] with [colour] + enamel — common DIY pattern
Christopher carefully applied two coats of white enamel to the model airplane.
apply + coats of + enamel — typical collocation
Lien gave the garden bench a fresh layer of green enamel before the summer parties began.
Erik chose a high-gloss enamel for the kitchen cupboards.
- gloss paint
British everyday term for the same product; 'enamel' sounds more technical or American.
- lacquer
harder, often clear finish; lacquer dries by solvent evaporation while enamel cures into a hard film.
- matte paint
the opposite finish: dull, non-reflective.
文法句型
enamel paint
a coat of enamel
用法筆記
Often appears in the compound 'enamel paint'. Distinguish from sense 1 by domain: this sense lives in home decoration and hobby contexts, never in jewellery or museum descriptions.
3. the hard, pale outer layer that protects each tooth and gives it a shiny appeara
the hard, pale outer layer that protects each tooth and gives it a shiny appearance
The dentist warned João that drinking too much cola was wearing down his tooth enamel.
wear down + enamel — most common verb collocation in dental contexts
The hygienist told Élise that brushing too hard had damaged the enamel on her front teeth.
damage + enamel on [body part] — health-advice pattern
Tariq's dentist recommended a special toothpaste to help rebuild weakened enamel.
Acidic fruit juices slowly strip the enamel from children's baby teeth.
文法句型
tooth enamel
enamel on the teeth
用法筆記
Almost always uncountable. Frequently appears with verbs of damage or loss: 'wear down', 'erode', 'damage', 'strip', 'weaken'. Distinguish from sense 1 by context: dental contexts always mean this sense.
常見錯誤
4. a smooth, shiny outer surface on any object that looks similar to a true enamel
a smooth, shiny outer surface on any object that looks similar to a true enamel coating, used as a general or figurative description
After hours of rain, the city streets shone with a black enamel that mirrored every passing car.
shine with + an enamel + that — figurative pattern describing appearance
Eitan polished the wooden table until it had the enamel of a freshly waxed car.
had the enamel of — comparison pattern
Frost had laid a delicate enamel across every leaf in the orchard.
The lake at dawn wore a pale enamel that masked the deep currents below.
文法句型
a smooth enamel of
用法筆記
Literary and descriptive; rare in everyday speech. Distinguish from sense 1 by the absence of any real glassy substance — here 'enamel' is a comparison for any glossy appearance.
enamel — verb
- enamelpresent simple I / you / we / they
- enamels3rd person singular
- enamelling-ing form
- enamelledpast simple
1. to put a layer of enamel onto the surface of something so that it becomes shiny,
to put a layer of enamel onto the surface of something so that it becomes shiny, coloured, or protected
Eshe spent the afternoon learning how to enamel small silver pendants at the craft workshop.
learn how to enamel + [object] — typical hobby/craft context
The workshop enamels copper bowls in dozens of bright colours for tourists.
enamel + [object] in + [colours] — production-line pattern
Camila enamelled the inside of the ring with a tiny blue flower as a birthday gift.
The brooch had been enamelled by hand in a small Florentine studio.
- strip
remove a surface coating.
文法句型
enamel + [object]
enamel [object] with [colour]
用法筆記
Mainly used in craft, jewellery, and museum contexts. Often appears in the passive ('was enamelled by'). British English typically doubles the 'l' in inflected forms ('enamelled', 'enamelling'); American English uses single 'l' ('enameled', 'enameling').