English Explanatory Dictionary

cement

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A powdered substance produced by firing (calcining) calcium carbonate (limestone) and clay that develops strong cohesive properties when mixed with water. The main ingredient of concrete.
  2. The paste-like substance resulting from mixing such a powder with water, or the rock-like substance that forms when it dries.
  3. Any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties such as binding agents, glues, grout.
  4. A bond of union; that which unites firmly, as persons in friendship or in society.
  5. The layer of bone investing the root and neck of a tooth; cementum.
verb
  1. To affix with cement.
  2. To overlay or coat with cement.
  3. To unite firmly or closely.
  4. To make permanent.
name
  1. A town in Oklahoma.

Pronunciation

/səˈmɛnt/ en-us-cement.ogg en-au-cement.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-cement.wav /ˈsi.mɛnt/

Word forms

cement cements caement cæment cementing cemented

Etymology

From Middle English syment, cyment, from Old French ciment, from Latin caementum (“quarry stone; stone chips for making mortar”), from caedō (“to cut, hew”). Doublet of cementum.

Related words

concrete

Derived words

asbestos cement cementable cemental cement arm cementation cement board cement car cement copper cementer cement hands cementhead cementite cementless cementlike cement mixer cementoclast cementoenamel cementogenic cementoid cementopathia cement shoes cement steel cement together cement works ferrocement ferro-cement fibre cement hydraulic cement iron cement Keene's cement Martin's cement masonry cement noncement Parian cement Portland cement re-cement recement Roman cement rubber cement uncement water cement
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