n. 1. A vitreous, usually opaque, protective or decorative coating baked on metal, glass, or ceramic ware. 2. An object having such a coating, as in a piece of cloisonné. 3. A coating that dries to a hard glossy finish: nail enamel. 4. A paint that dries to a hard glossy finish. 5. Anatomy The hard, calcareous substance covering the exposed portion of a tooth. tr.v. e·nam·eled, e·nam·el·ing, e·nam·els or e·nam·elled or e·nam·el·ling 1. To coat, inlay, or decorate with enamel. 2. To give a glossy or brilliant surface to. 3. To adorn with a brightly colored surface. [From Middle English enamelen, to put on enamel, from Anglo-Norman enamailler : en-, on (from Old French; see EN-1) + amail, enamel (from Old French esmail, of Germanic origin; see mel-1 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] e·namel·er, e·namel·ist n. |
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