Copper

Pronunciation

• AusE enPR: kŏ'pÉ™, IPA: /ˈkÉ”p.É™/
• UK enPR: kŏ'pÉ™, IPA: /ˈkÉ’p.É™/
• US enPR: kä'pÉ™r, IPA: /ˈkÉ‘.pÉš/
• Rhymes: -É’pÉ™(r)

From Middle English coper, from Old English coper, copor ("copper"), from Late Latin cuprum ("copper"), contraction of Latin (aes) Cyprium (literally brass of Cyprus), from Ancient Greek Κύπρος (Kupros, "Cyprus"). Cognate with Dutch koper ("copper"), German Kupfer ("copper"), Icelandic kopar ("copper").

Full definition of copper

Noun

1. (uncountable) a reddish-brown, malleable, ductile metallic element with high electrical and thermal conductivity, symbol Cu, and atomic number 29.
2. (countable) Something made of copper.
3. The reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
4. (countable) A copper coin.
• FranklinMy friends filled my pockets with coppers.
5. (UK, archaic) A large pot, often used for heating water or washing clothes over a fire. In New Zealand at least, it could also be a fixed installation made of copper, with a fire underneath and its own chimney. Generally made redundant by the advent of the washing machine.Mum would heat the water in a copper in the kitchen and transfer it to the tin bath.I explain that socks can’t be boiled up in the copper with the sheets and towels or they shrink.
• 1797, Dyeing, article in Colin Macfarquhar, George Gleig (editors), Encyclopædia Britannica: or, A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, Volume 6, Part 1 the+copper%22+-intitle:%22%22+-inauthor:%22%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KqIwT_qFGqHUmAW63fDaBQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22water%20in%20a|the%20copper%22%20-intitle%3A%22%22%20-inauthor%3A%22%22&f=false page 207,When the water in the copper boils, the arsenic and tartar, well pounded, is put into it, and kept boiling till the liquor is reduced to about half.

Synonyms

• (colour) chestnut, russet

Derived terms

Related terms

Adjective

1. Made of copper.
2. Having the reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
• ColeridgeAll in a hot and copper sky,The bloody Sun, at noon,Right up above the mast did stand,No bigger than the Moon.

Synonyms

• (made of copper)
• (having the colour/color of copper): coppery

Verb

1. To sheathe or coat with copper.

From cop (verb) ("to take, capture") + -er("agent suffix")

Noun

1. (slang, law enforcement) A policeman.

Synonyms

• (policeman) police officer, constable, cop

Related terms

• cop