e|nam´el|like´

e|nam|el «ih NAM uhl», noun, verb, -eled, -el|ing or (especially British) -elled, -el|ling.

–n.

1. a glasslike substance melted and then cooled to make a smooth, hard surface. Different colors of enamel are used to cover or decorate different surfaces, such as metal or pottery.

2. a paint or varnish used to make a smooth, hard, glossy surface when dry: »

We put a heavy coat of enamel on the baby's toys to prevent them from chipping.

3. the smooth, hard, glossy outer layer that covers and protects the crown of a tooth: »

The crown is covered with enamel, the hardest substance in the body, and the root is covered with cementum (Harbaugh and Goodrich).

4. any smooth, hard, shiny coating or surface.

5. a thing or things covered or decorated with enamel; enamelware.

6. a cosmetic formerly applied to skin to make it smooth.

–v.t.

1. to cover or decorate with enamel: »

We bought a bucket of paint and enameled the woodwork.

2. to form a hard, glossy surface upon.

3. to adorn with various colors; decorate as if with enamel.

╂[< Anglo-French enamayller < en- on (< Latin in-) + amayl, Old French esmail enamel < Germanic (compare Old High German smelzen melt, to smelt)]

–e|nam´el|er or especially British

–e|nam´el|ler, noun.

–e|nam´el|like´, adjective.