enamel

The hard outer layer of a tooth.

• Acid can damage tooth enamel.
• Your dentist checks for worn enamel.
• This toothpaste helps protect the enamel on your teeth.

Common phrases: tooth enamel, damaged enamel, protect enamel

A hard, glass-like layer fixed onto metal or pottery by heating.

• The brooch is covered in blue enamel.
• Heat fixes the enamel onto the metal.
• Some enamel had chipped off the old pot.

Common phrases: blue enamel, enamel coating, enamel jewellery

Paint or another coating that becomes hard and shiny when it dries.

• We painted the door with white enamel.
• The enamel dried to a shiny finish.
• Use a clean brush to apply the enamel.

Similar words: enamel paint

Common phrases: enamel paint, gloss enamel, white enamel

A cosmetic used to make the skin on someone’s face look smooth and attractive.

• She covered her face with enamel.
• The white enamel hid marks on her skin.
• The actress kept a jar of enamel beside her mirror.

Common phrases: facial enamel, white enamel

To cover or decorate metal or pottery with a hard, glass-like layer using heat.

• They enamel the pots before selling them.
• She enamelled the copper brooch in blue.
• The artist learned to enamel small pieces of jewellery.

Common phrases: enamel a brooch, enamel metal, enamel a pot

To cover something with different bright colours, like a shining decoration.

• Spring flowers enamel the meadow.
• Tiny blossoms enamelled the green hillside.
• Red and yellow flowers enamel the garden each spring.

Similar words: colour, decorate

Common phrases: enamel the meadow, enamel the fields

To give a material a smooth, shiny surface.

• The workshop uses rollers to enamel paper.
• They enamelled the leather for a glossy finish.
• This machine can enamel cloth as well as card.

Similar words: glaze

Common phrases: enamel paper, enamel leather, enamel cloth

To cover someone’s face with cosmetics to hide marks and make it look smooth.

• She used powder to enamel her face.
• The attendant enamelled the actress’s complexion before the performance.
• They would enamel their cheeks to hide small marks.

Similar words: make up

Common phrases: enamel the face, enamel someone’s complexion