metallide

transitive verb

met·​al·​lide

ˈmetᵊlˌīd,

-etᵊl-

-ed/-ing/-s

: to diffuse (atoms of a metal or metalloid) into the surface of a metal by electrolysis in order to impart a desired surface property (such as hardness) to the bulk metal

Word History

Etymology

obsolete metallide, noun, a binary compound of metals, from metall- + -ide entry 1

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

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