• Cement

    Pronunciation

    • IPA: /səˈmÉ›nt/

    Alternative forms

    Origin

    From Old French ciment, from Latin caementum ("quarry stone; stone chips for making mortar"), from caedo ("I cut, hew").

    Full definition of cement

    Noun

    cement

    (countable and uncountable; plural cements)
    1. (uncountable) A powdered substance that develops strong adhesive properties when mixed with water.
      • 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 22, In the autumn there was a row at some cement works about the unskilled labour men. A union had just been started for them and all but a few joined. One of these blacklegs was laid for by a picket and knocked out of time.
    2. (uncountable) The paste-like substance resulting from mixing such a powder with water.
    3. (uncountable) Any material with strong adhesive properties.
    4. (figurative) Bond of union; that which unites firmly, as persons in friendship or in society.
      the cement of our love
    5. (anatomy) The layer of bone investing the root and neck of a tooth; cementum.

    Derived terms

    Verb

    1. (transitive) To affix with cement.
    2. (transitive) To overlay or coat with cement.to cement a cellar bottom
    3. (transitive, figurative) To unite firmly or closely.
    4. (figuratively) To make permanent.
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