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Webster 1913 Edition

Copper

Cop′per

,
Noun.
[OE.
coper
(cf. D.
koper
, Sw.
koppar
, Dan.
kobber
, G.
kupfer
), LL.
cuper
, fr. L.
cuprum
for earlier
Cyprium
,
Cyprium aes
, i.e., Cyprian brass, fr. Gr. [GREEK] of Cyprus (Gr. [GREEK]), anciently renowned for its copper mines. Cf.
Cypreous
.]
1.
A common metal of a reddish color, both ductile and malleable, and very tenacious. It is one of the best conductors of heat and electricity. Symbol Cu. Atomic weight 63.3. It is one of the most useful metals in itself, and also in its alloys, brass and bronze.
☞ Copper is the only metal which occurs native abundantly in large masses; it is found also in various ores, of which the most important are chalcopyrite, chalcocite, cuprite, and malachite. Copper mixed with tin forms bell metal; with a smaller proportion, bronze; and with zinc, it forms brass, pinchbeck, and other alloys.
2.
A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper.
[Colloq.]
My friends filled my pockets with
coppers
.
Franklin.
3.
A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.
4.
pl.
Specifically
(Naut.)
,
the boilers in the galley for cooking;
as, a ship’s
coppers
.
☞ Copper is often used adjectively, commonly in the sense of made or consisting of copper, or resembling copper; as, a copper boiler, tube, etc.
All in a hot and
copper
sky.
Coleridge.
It is sometimes written in combination; as, copperplate, coppersmith, copper-colored.
Copper finch
.
(Zool.)
See
Chaffinch
.
–
Copper glance
, or
Vitreous copper
.
(Min.)
See
Chalcocite
.
–
Indigo copper
.
(Min.)
See
Covelline
.

Cop′per

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Coppered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Coppering
.]
To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper;
as, to
copper
a ship
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Copper

COPPER

,
Noun.
[L., G., supposed to be so called from Cyprus, an isle in the Mediterranean. This opinion is probable, as the Greeks called it Cyprian brass, brass of Cyprus. In this case copper was originally an adjective.] A metal, of a pale red color, tinged with yellow. Next to gold, silver and platina, it is the most ductile and malleable of the metals, and it is more elastic than any metal, except steel, and the most sonorous of all the metals. It is found native in lamins or fibers, in a gangue almost always quartzous; it is also found crystalized, and in grains or superficial lamins on stones or iron. It is not altered by water, but is tarnished by exposure to the air, and is at last covered with a green carbonated oxyd. Copper in sheets is much used for covering the bottoms of ships, for boilers and other utensils; mixed with tin and zink, it is used in enamel-painting, dyeing, &c. : mixed with tin, it forms bell-metal; with a smaller proportion, bronze; and with zink, it forms brass, pinchbeck, &c. When taken into the body ti operates as a violent emetic, and all its preparations are violent poisons.

COPPER

,
Adj.
Consisting of copper.

COPPER

,
Noun.
1.
A vessel made of copper, particularly a large boiler.
2 Formerly, a small copper coin.
My friend filled my pocket with coppers.

COPPER

,
Verb.
T.
To cover or sheathe with sheets of copper; as, to copper a ship.

Definition 2024

copper

copper

English

Copper in its natural state.
Chemical element
Cu Previous: nickel (Ni)
Next: zinc (Zn)

Noun

copper ‎(countable and uncountable, plural coppers)

  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.
    copper colour:    
  4. (countable) A copper coin.
    • Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
      My friends filled my pockets with coppers.
    • 1909, Archibald Marshall, The Squire's Daughter, chapterII:
      "I don't want to spoil any comparison you are going to make," said Jim, "but I was at Winchester and New College." ¶ "That will do," said Mackenzie. "I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal. […]."
  5. (Britain, archaic) A large pot, often used for heating water or washing clothes over a fire. In Australasia 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 p.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
Derived terms
Related terms
Translations

Adjective

copper ‎(comparative more copper, superlative most copper)

  1. Made of copper.
  2. Having the reddish-brown colour/color of copper.
    • Coleridge
      All 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): coppern
  • (having the colour/color of copper): coppery
Translations

Verb

copper ‎(third-person singular simple present coppers, present participle coppering, simple past and past participle coppered)

  1. To sheathe or coat with copper.
Translations

See also

Etymology 2

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

Noun

copper ‎(plural coppers)

  1. (slang, law enforcement) A police officer.
Synonyms
Related terms
Translations

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

  • (Australia) enPR: kŏ'pə, IPA(key): /ˈkɔp.ə/
  • (UK) enPR: kŏ'pə, IPA(key): /ˈkɒp.ə/
  • (US) enPR: kä'pər, IPA(key): /ˈkɑ.pɚ/
  • Rhymes: -ɒpə(r)

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