plural coppers
often attributive
1
: a metallic chemical element that is easily formed into sheets and wires and is one of the best known conductors of heat and electricity see Chemical Elements Table
2
: a coin or token made of copper or bronze
3
chiefly British
: a large boiler (as for cooking)
4
: any of a subfamily (Lycaeninae of the family Lycaenidae) of small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings
Synonyms
Examples of copper in a Sentence
Noun (2)
a crime novel set in the days when policemen were coppers and safecrackers were "yeggs"
Recent Examples on the Web
Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 May 2024
After initially using copper for tools, humans turned to the more durable bronze, created by smelting copper along with tin and other metals.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2024
By contrast, copper production in the U.S. is falling.
—Terry W. Hartle, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2024
According to the University of Washington, metals like aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin, and zinc can melt at temperatures below 2,000 degrees.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2024
The actor had long, copper hair that contrasted her denim Zac Posen gown.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 6 May 2024
The document—which scandalized the country after it was leaked to the press in 1986—was a major factor in a 1991 rule designed to minimize the amount of lead and copper in drinking water.
—TIME, 2 May 2024
Efforts to more effectively recycle aluminum, copper, and other resources found in mounding e-waste could also potentially help build out future batteries with less intensive mining.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Rejecting an Industrial Road: The Interior Department is expected to deny permission for a 211-mile industrial road to a large copper deposit through the fragile Alaskan wilderness, handing a victory to environmentalists in an election year.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Noun
In metallurgy, there are standardized numbers indicating copper content, with N1 indicating straight-up yellow gold and higher numbers indicating more and more copper.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 13 May 2024
After initially using copper for tools, humans turned to the more durable bronze, created by smelting copper along with tin and other metals.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 10 May 2024
By contrast, copper production in the U.S. is falling.
—Terry W. Hartle, The Christian Science Monitor, 9 May 2024
According to the University of Washington, metals like aluminum, brass, bronze, copper, lead, tin, and zinc can melt at temperatures below 2,000 degrees.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 6 May 2024
The actor had long, copper hair that contrasted her denim Zac Posen gown.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 6 May 2024
The document—which scandalized the country after it was leaked to the press in 1986—was a major factor in a 1991 rule designed to minimize the amount of lead and copper in drinking water.
—TIME, 2 May 2024
Efforts to more effectively recycle aluminum, copper, and other resources found in mounding e-waste could also potentially help build out future batteries with less intensive mining.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 1 May 2024
Rejecting an Industrial Road: The Interior Department is expected to deny permission for a 211-mile industrial road to a large copper deposit through the fragile Alaskan wilderness, handing a victory to environmentalists in an election year.
—Coral Davenport, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'copper.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near copper
Cite this Entry
“Copper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copper. Accessed 17 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
copper
1 of 2 noun
cop·per
ˈkäp-ər 
1
: a reddish metallic element that is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity see element
2
: a copper or bronze coin
3
chiefly British
: a large copper kettle or boiler
4
: any of various small butterflies with usually copper-colored wings
coppery
adjective
ˈkäp-(ə-)rē
copper
2 of 2 nounMedical Definition
copper
noun
cop·per
ˈkäp-ər
often attributive
: a common reddish metallic element that is ductile and malleable and one of the best conductors of heat and electricity
—symbol Cu
see Chemical Elements Table
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