cement — a powdery substance made of calcined lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar or concrete
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a powdery substance made of calcined lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar or concrete
Pronunciation (IPA): /sɪˈment/
Example Sentences
- My dad tried to fix the garden wall with cement, but it looked like he was making abstract art instead.
- The couple decided to cement their love by building a house together.
- The construction worker's shoes were so covered in cement that he looked like he was wearing concrete boots.
cement
NOUN[/sɪˈment/]
a powdery substance made of calcined lime and clay, mixed with water to form mortar or concrete
Workers poured wet cement to strengthen the foundation of the new bridge.
The treaty cemented peace between the two countries after years of conflict. (CONNECT + HARDEN = CEMENT)
The strong cement foundation helped prevent collapse and created a permanent structure.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin 'caementum', originally meaning 'broken stone' or 'chipped stone'. The term evolved through architectural usage, where it referred to the material used to fill spaces between stones in construction, eventually developing into the modern meaning of a binding agent.
Breakdown
Latin 'caementum' (broken/chipped stone) → English 'cement'. The root likely derives from Latin 'caedere' (to cut, strike), with the suffix '-mentum' (denoting result or substance).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My dad tried to fix the garden wall with cement, but it looked like he was making abstract art instead.”
“The couple decided to cement their love by building a house together.”
“The construction worker's shoes were so covered in cement that he looked like he was wearing concrete boots.”
“This agreement will cement our partnership for years to come.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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