cement

A building material that becomes hard when mixed with water and holds other materials together.

• We need another bag of cement.
• The workers mixed cement with water and sand.
• This cement holds the bricks together.

Common phrases: mix cement, bag of cement, wet cement, cement powder

Something that keeps people or a group firmly together.

• Trust is the cement of their friendship.
• Shared memories became the cement of the community.
• Love provided the cement that held the family together.

How to use it: the cement of something (Mutual respect is the cement of this partnership.)

Similar words: bond, glue

Common phrases: cement of something, social cement

To make a relationship, position, or result stronger and more certain to last.

• The visit cemented their friendship.
• This victory cemented her position as team captain.
• Years of reliable service have cemented the company’s reputation.

Similar words: strengthen, secure, consolidate

Opposites: weaken

Common phrases: cement a relationship, cement someone’s position, cement a reputation

To join or fix things firmly using a material that hardens.

• They cemented the stones together.
• We cemented the posts into the ground.
• The builder will cement the tiles to the wall.

How to use it: cement something together (We cemented the blocks together.); cement something into something (He cemented the pole into the ground.); cement something to something (They cemented the slab to its base.)

Similar words: fix, bond

Common phrases: cement something together, cement something into, cement something to

To cover a surface with a building material that hardens.

• They cemented the cellar floor.
• We need to cement this rough surface.
• The workers cemented the walls before painting them.

Common phrases: cement a floor, cement a wall