enamel
/ɪˈnæml/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈnæml/ (ame, ipa) · /i-ˈna-məl/ (ame, mw) · /ɪˈnæm.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /ɪˈnæm.əl/ (ame, ipa)
enamel — 名詞
- enamelsingular
- enamelsplural
1. a thin, shiny, glass-based layer that is heated so it sticks firmly onto pottery
琺瑯；瓷釉
燒附於金屬或陶瓷的玻璃質塗層
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.
Hana 在她的工作室窯爐裡燒製那只小銅碟，直到藍色琺瑯變得光亮。
the {process} until the {noun} {result} — describing the firing of enamel
The museum displayed a medieval cross covered in red and gold enamel.
博物館展示了一個覆蓋著紅金琺瑯的中世紀十字架。
covered in [colour] + enamel — typical collocation for decorative work
Rohan inherited a Chinese teapot whose flowers were painted in delicate green enamel.
Rohan 繼承了一只中式茶壺，上面的花是用細緻的綠色琺瑯所繪。
Tiny cracks had begun to spread across the enamel on the antique pendant.
古董墜飾上的琺瑯已開始出現細小裂紋。
- 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,
亮光漆；磁漆
乾後形成光亮表面的油漆
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.
Beatrix 用黑色亮光漆重新粉刷鐵門，以防雨水侵蝕。
repaint [object] with [colour] + enamel — common DIY pattern
Christopher carefully applied two coats of white enamel to the model airplane.
Christopher 小心地為模型飛機塗上兩層白色亮光漆。
apply + coats of + enamel — typical collocation
Lien gave the garden bench a fresh layer of green enamel before the summer parties began.
Lien 在夏日派對開始前，為花園長椅再上一層綠色亮光漆。
Erik chose a high-gloss enamel for the kitchen cupboards.
Erik 為廚房櫥櫃挑選了一款高亮度的亮光漆。
- 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
琺瑯質
覆蓋牙齒外表的堅硬保護層
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.
牙醫警告 João 喝太多可樂正在磨損他的牙齒琺瑯質。
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.
牙齒保健師告訴 Élise，她刷牙太用力已經傷害了門牙上的琺瑯質。
damage + enamel on [body part] — health-advice pattern
Tariq's dentist recommended a special toothpaste to help rebuild weakened enamel.
Tariq 的牙醫推薦一款特殊牙膏，可幫助修復受損的琺瑯質。
Acidic fruit juices slowly strip the enamel from children's baby teeth.
酸性果汁會慢慢侵蝕兒童乳牙的琺瑯質。
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
光亮表層
比喻物體表面如琺瑯般的光滑層
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.
下了幾個小時的雨後，城市街道泛著一層黑色的光亮表層，映照出每一輛經過的車。
shine with + an enamel + that — figurative pattern describing appearance
Eitan polished the wooden table until it had the enamel of a freshly waxed car.
Eitan 將木桌打磨到像剛打過蠟的車一樣有光亮表層。
had the enamel of — comparison pattern
Frost had laid a delicate enamel across every leaf in the orchard.
霜在果園的每片葉子上鋪了一層細緻的光亮表層。
The lake at dawn wore a pale enamel that masked the deep currents below.
黎明的湖面披著一層淡淡的光亮表層，掩蓋了底下的深流。
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 — 動詞
- 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,
塗琺瑯；上釉
在物體表面塗附琺瑯使其光亮或受保護
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.
Eshe 整個下午都在工藝坊學習如何在小銀墜上塗琺瑯。
learn how to enamel + [object] — typical hobby/craft context
The workshop enamels copper bowls in dozens of bright colours for tourists.
這家工作坊為觀光客以幾十種鮮豔色彩在銅碗上塗琺瑯。
enamel + [object] in + [colours] — production-line pattern
Camila enamelled the inside of the ring with a tiny blue flower as a birthday gift.
Camila 在戒指內側塗上一朵小藍花琺瑯，作為生日禮物。
The brooch had been enamelled by hand in a small Florentine studio.
這枚胸針是在佛羅倫斯一家小工作室手工塗琺瑯的。
- 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').