copper
UK /ˈkɒpə/ · US /ˈkɑpəɹ/ noun, adjective, verb, proper noun
Forms coppers coppering coppered
- noun (uncountable, chemistry) A reddish-brown metallic chemical element (symbol Cu) with the atomic number 29; also, the metal made up of this element.
- noun (uncountable) The reddish-brown colour of copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- noun (countable, entomology) In full copper butterfly: any of various lycaenid butterflies with copper-coloured upperwings, especially those of the genera Lycaena and Paralucia.
- noun (countable, dated) Any of various specialized items made of copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1), where the use of the metal is either necessary or traditional to the function of the item.
- noun (countable) A copper mug used for drinking alcoholic beverages.
- noun (countable) A copper sheet on which an image or writing is engraved.
- noun (numismatics, countable) A coin, typically of a small denomination, originally made of copper and now chiefly of other metals such as bronze; specifically, an English or British penny or halfpenny; also, a United States cent; (uncountable) coins made of copper collectively.
- noun (countable, US, card games) In the game of faro: originally a copper coin, now usually a small disc or token, placed on a playing card to indicate that a player bets against that card.
- adjective Made of copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- adjective Having the reddish-brown colour of copper.
- verb To coat or sheathe (something) with copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- verb To give (something) a colour by applying a copper salt.
- verb (dated) To give copper coins to (someone); to pay.
- verb (US, card games) In the game of faro: to place a copper coin, or now usually a small disc or token, on (a playing card) to indicate that a player bets against that card.
- verb (figurative) To bet against (something).
- noun (chiefly Australia, UK) A police officer, especially one in uniform.
- noun (US, dated or historical) Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: a private detective or a security guard.
- noun A person working as an informer for the police; a nark
- noun A prisoner who informs on fellow prisoners.
- verb (chiefly UK) To inform on (someone) to the police; to nark.
Synonyms
chestnut russet coppern coppery copperish constable cop 5-O alphabet barney beatsman bizzie bluebottle bluecoat blue heeler blue meanie bobby body snatcher bogey boy in blue Cu atomic number 29 bull fuzz pig copper color
Etymology
The noun is inherited from Middle English coper, copper (“copper ore; copper metal; bronze”), from Old English coper, copor (“copper”), from Late Latin cuprum (“copper”), a contraction of Latin aes Cyprium (literally “Cyprian brass or copper”), ultimately from Ancient Greek Κῠ́προς (Kŭ́pros, “Cyprus”) (a major source of copper during the Near East’s Bronze Age), from the name of a Northwest Semitic goddess from the root כ־ב־ר/ك ب ر (k b r) (“related to being big, large; great; or old”). Doublet of kobo.
The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. The verb is also derived from the noun.
* Dutch koper (“copper”)
* German Kupfer (“copper”)
* Icelandic kopar (“copper”)
Compare typologically Argentina (< Latin argentum, an opposite semantic shift); turquoise (akin to Turk).
The noun is probably derived from cop (“(informal, dated) to arrest or capture (someone)”) + -er (suffix forming agent nouns), although cop is attested slightly later.
The verb is derived from the noun.
From cop (“ball of thread wound on to a spindle in a spinning machine”) + -er (suffix denoting things relating to the words to which the suffix is attached to).
Webster’s 1913
- noun 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.
- noun A coin made of copper; a penny, cent, or other minor coin of copper. [Colloq.]
- verb To cover or coat with copper; to sheathe with sheets of copper; as, to copper a ship.
Etymology [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. Cypreous.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “copper”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details