: a bluish-white metallic element with atomic number 30 that is ductile when pure but in the commercial form is brittle at ordinary temperatures and becomes ductile on slight heating, occurs abundantly in minerals, is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals, and is used especially in alloys and as a protective coating in galvanizing iron and steel
—often used before another noun
a zinc coating
zinc additives
see Chemical Elements Table
: to treat or coat with zinc : galvanize
Examples of zinc in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Among notable industrial sites, the research team identified key mineral extraction operations, including Alaska's remote Red Dog Mine, which was recognized as the world's second-largest zinc producer as of 2018.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The two zinc cable ends magnetically stick together and can carry up to 60 watts, which can even slowly juice up a MacBook Pro.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
Yet multiple essential nutrients (e.g. iron, copper, and zinc) could be considered part of the same group by periodic property, and literal heaviness dictates nothing inherent about a material’s toxicity.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zinc 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
There was no shower, so my mother would pour hot kettles of water into a small zinc basin on the floor of the kitchen.
—Wal Van Lierop, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Among notable industrial sites, the research team identified key mineral extraction operations, including Alaska's remote Red Dog Mine, which was recognized as the world's second-largest zinc producer as of 2018.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
The two zinc cable ends magnetically stick together and can carry up to 60 watts, which can even slowly juice up a MacBook Pro.
—Louryn Strampe, WIRED, 30 Nov. 2024
Yet multiple essential nutrients (e.g. iron, copper, and zinc) could be considered part of the same group by periodic property, and literal heaviness dictates nothing inherent about a material’s toxicity.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for zinc
Dictionary Entries Near zinc
Cite this Entry
“Zinc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
zinc
noun
: a bluish-white metallic chemical element with atomic number 30 that is an essential micronutrient for both plants and animals
—symbol Zn
see Chemical Elements Table
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share