zinc
noun/zɪŋk/
/zɪŋk/
- [uncountable] (symbol Zn)a chemical element. Zinc is a blue-white metal that is mixed with copper to produce brass and is often used to cover other metals to prevent them from rusting.Topics Physics and chemistryc2
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- [countable] (informal) (in some places in Africa) a sheet of corrugated iron that is used to make a roof, shelter, etc.
- They built a temporary home out of zincs.
Word Originmid 17th cent.: from German Zink, of unknown origin.
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