Bronze

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /bɹɒnz/
• US IPA: /bɹɑnz/
• Rhymes: -É’nz

Origin

1730-40; from French bronze (1511), from Italian bronzo (13th cent.); see it for more.

Full definition of bronze

Noun

1. (uncountable) A natural or man-made alloy of copper, usually of tin, but also with one or more other metals.
2. (countable and uncountable) A reddish-brown colour, the colour of bronze.
3. (countable) A work of art made of bronze, especially a sculpture.
4. A bronze medal.
5. Boldness; impudence; brass.
• Alexander PopeEmbrown'd with native bronze, lo! Henley stands.

Adjective

1. Made of bronze metal.
• 1907, w, The Younger Set Chapter 1/2, The house was a big elaborate limestone affair, evidently new. Winter sunshine sparkled on lace-hung casement, on glass marquise, and the burnished bronze foliations of grille and door.
2. Having a reddish-brown colour.
3. (of the skin) Tanned; darkened as a result of exposure to the sun.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To plate with bronze.My mother bronzed my first pair of baby shoes.
2. (transitive) To color bronze.
3. (intransitive, of the skin) To change to a bronze or tan colour due to exposure to the sun.
• 2006, Melissa Lassor, "Out of Darkness", page 124 in Watching TimeHis skin began to bronze as he worked in our garden each day.
4. (transitive) To make hard or unfeeling; to brazen.
• Sir Walter Scottthe lawyer who bronzes his bosom instead of his forehead

Anagrams

• bonzer