zinc

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English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Chemical element
Zn
Previous: copper (Cu)
Next: gallium (Ga)
Zinc cube, fragment and dendrite.

Etymology

From German Zink, related to Zinke (point, prong), from Middle High German zinke, from Old High German zinko (prong, tine), allied to zint (a jag, point), from Proto-Germanic *tindaz (prong, pinnacle), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃dónts (tooth, projection). Cognate with Old English tind (tine, prong), Middle Low German tinde, Icelandic tindur (spike, tooth of a rake or harrow, pinnacle, peak, battlement). See also Dutch tinne (battlement), German Zinne (pinnacle, battlement), Danish tinde (pinnacle, battlement), Swedish tinne (tooth of a rake), More at tine. Doublet of zincum.

Pronunciation

  • (US) enPR: zingk, IPA(key): /zɪŋk/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪŋk

Noun

zinc (countable and uncountable, plural zincs)

  1. A chemical element (symbol Zn) with an atomic number of 30, a blue-silvery metal that is slightly brittle at room temperature and tarnishes slightly in moist air.
  2. (countable) A single atom of this element.
  3. (Nigeria) A corrugated iron roof.
  4. (UK, dated, colloquial) A zinc countertop.
    • 1904, The Saturday Review of Politics, Literature, Science and Art:
      Then, three workmen throwing dice for drinks. And their heads come sharply together as they count the scores. And so violently do they throw the dice that they shoot off "the zinc" on to the floor.
    • 2010, Chris Ackerley, Demented Particulars, page 44:
      Even if there were a Chef and Brewer near Marble Arch, the name suggests a pint and pie, not a prawn and tomato sandwich and “a dock glass of white port off the zinc”; i.e., a small glass of a fine aperitif, at the counter []

Synonyms

Derived terms

element

Related terms

Translations

See also

other terms of interest

Verb

zinc (third-person singular simple present zincs, present participle zincing or zinking or zincking, simple past and past participle zinced or zinked or zincked)

  1. (rare) To electroplate with zinc.
  2. (rare) To coat with sunblock incorporating zinc oxide.

Synonyms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Anagrams

Catalan

Chemical element
Zn
Previous: coure (Cu)
Next: gal·li (Ga)

Etymology

Borrowed from French zinc, from German Zink.

Pronunciation

Noun

zinc m (uncountable)

  1. zinc

Derived terms

Further reading

French

Etymology 1

Borrowed from German Zink.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /zɛ̃ɡ/, /zɛ̃k/
  • Both pronunciations are standard. While that with /ɡ/ is traditionally preferred, that with /k/ is reinforced by the spelling.
  • (file)

Noun

zinc m (plural zincs)

  1. (metallurgy, chemistry) zinc
  2. (informal) counter (in a bar, café, etc), bar
    • 1980, “Où c’est qu’j’ai mis mon flingue?”, in Marche à l’ombre, performed by Renaud:
      Moi, mon av’nir est sur le zinc / D’un bistrot des plus cradingues
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
  3. (informal) small plane
Related terms

Further reading

Etymology 2

Clipping of zincou, verlan form of cousin (cousin).

Pronunciation

Noun

zinc m (plural zincs)

  1. (Verlan) dude, man

Occitan

Occitan Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia oc

Pronunciation

Noun

zinc m (uncountable)

  1. zinc

Romanian

Romanian Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia ro
Chemical element
Zn
Previous: cupru (Cu)
Next: galiu (Ga)

Etymology

Borrowed from French zinc, from German Zink.

Pronunciation

Noun

zinc n (uncountable)

  1. zinc (metal)

Declension

References

Spanish

Pronunciation

Noun

zinc m (uncountable)

  1. Alternative spelling of cinc

Further reading