copper
1
[ kop-er ]
/ ˈkɒp ər /
noun
adjective
made of copper: copper kettles.
reddish-brown; coppery: The copper sun sank into the sea.
verb (used with object)
to cover, coat, or sheathe with copper.
Informal.
hedge(def 6).
Origin of copper
1
before 1000; Middle English
coper, Old English
coper, copor (cognate with Old Norse
koparr, German
Kupfer) < Late Latin
cuprum, for Latin (
aes)
Cyprium
Cyprian (metal)
Words nearby copper
Definition for copper (2 of 2)
copper
2
[ kop-er ]
/ ˈkɒp ər /
noun Slang.
a police officer.
Example sentences from the Web for copper
British Dictionary definitions for copper (1 of 2)
copper
1
/ (ˈkɒpə) /
noun
- a malleable ductile reddish metallic element occurring as the free metal, copper glance, and copper pyrites: used as an electrical and thermal conductor and in such alloys as brass and bronze. Symbol: Cu; atomic no: 29; atomic wt: 63.546; valency: 1 or 2; relative density: 8.96; melting pt: 1084.87±+0.2°C; boiling pt: 2563°CRelated adjectives: cupric, cuprous Related prefix: cupro-
- (as modifier)a copper coin
- the reddish-brown colour of copper
- (as adjective)copper hair
informal
any copper or bronze coin
mainly British
a large vessel, formerly of copper, used for boiling or washing
any of various small widely distributed butterflies of the genera Lycaena, Heodes, etc, typically having reddish-brown wings: family Lycaenidae
verb
(tr)
to coat or cover with copper
Derived forms of copper
coppery, adjectiveWord Origin for copper
Old English
coper, from Latin
Cyprium aes Cyprian metal, from Greek
Kupris Cyprus
British Dictionary definitions for copper (2 of 2)
Word Origin for copper
C19: from
cop
1 (vb) +
-er
1
Medical definitions for copper
copper
[ kŏp′ər ]
n. Symbol Cu
A malleable metallic trace element used in its salt forms as an astringent, deodorant, and antifungal, and whose radioisotope is used in brain scans and for diagnosing Wilson's disease. Atomic number 29.
Scientific definitions for copper (1 of 2)
copper
[ kŏp′ər ]
Cu
A reddish-brown, ductile, malleable metallic element that is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is widely used for electrical wires, water pipes, and rust-resistant parts, either in its pure form or in alloys such as brass and bronze. Atomic number 29; atomic weight 63.546; melting point 1,083°C; boiling point 2,595°C; specific gravity 8.96; valence 1, 2. See Periodic Table. See Note at element.
Scientific definitions for copper (2 of 2)
Copper and Stone Age
See Chalcolithic.