Dictionary

cement en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈsi.mɛnt/ (Southern-US)
• /səˈmɛnt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *kh₂éydeti Proto-Italic *kaidō Latin caedō Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Latin caementum Old French cimentbor. Middle English syment English cement From Middle English syment, cyment, from Old French ciment, from Latin caementum (“quarry stone; stone chips for making mortar”), from caedō (“to cut, hew”). Doublet of cementum.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A powdered substance produced by firing (calcining) calcium carbonate (limestone) and clay that develops strong cohesive properties when mixed with water. The main ingredient of concrete.
   • In the autumn there was a row at some cement works about the unskilled labour men. A union had just been started for them and all but a few joined. One of these blacklegs was laid for by a picket and knocked out of time. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XXII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
   • Indigenous bacteria, which naturally exist in specific environments, are being increasingly utilized in self-healing cement to promote calcite precipitation, a process that fills cracks and restores the material’s structural integrity [4,5]. 2024 October 10, Tiana Milović et al., “Enhancing Compressive Strength of Cement by Indigenous Individual and Co-Culture Bacillus Bacteria”, in Materials, volume 17, number 20, →DOI, archived from the original on 24 Feb 2025:
2. (uncountable) The paste-like substance resulting from mixing such a powder with water, or the rock-like substance that forms when it dries.
3. (uncountable) Any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties such as binding agents, glues, grout.
4. (countable, figuratively, uncountable) A bond of union; that which unites firmly, as persons in friendship or in society.
   • the cement of our love
5. (countable, uncountable) The layer of bone investing the root and neck of a tooth; cementum.

Forms

Deriveds

cementer · noncement · cementoenamel · water cement · fibre cement · ferro-cement · asbestos cement · cement car · cemental · recement · cement copper · cement overcoat · cementogenic · cementation · Portland cement · cementless · rubber cement · cement together · cement mixer · cementopathia · iron cement · cementoclast · cement steel · cement shoes · Mack's cement · Keene's cement · re-cement · Parian cement · uncement · Roman cement · cementite · cement arm · portland cement · cementoid · cementhead · hydraulic cement · cement board · ferrocement · cement works · cement hands · cementlike · cementable · masonry cement · Martin's cement

Descendants

simen · 시멘트 · simiti · simen · suimint · simit · cymańt · セメント · ซีเมนต์ · ਸੀਮਿੰਟ · أَسْمَنْت · sment · sementi

Relateds

concrete

Translations (168)

sv cement (a powdered substance) · am ሲሚንቶ (a powdered substance) · de Zementmörtel (the paste-like substance) · lo ຊີມັງ (a powdered substance) · ga stroighin (the paste-like substance) · sw simiti (a powdered substance) · hu cement (a powdered substance) · fa سیمان (a powdered substance) · mr सिमेंट (a powdered substance) · lv cements (a powdered substance) · ja セメント (the paste-like substance) · yue 紅毛泥 /红毛泥 (the paste-like substance) · da cement (a powdered substance) · et tsement (a powdered substance) · ru цеме́нт (a powdered substance) · la ferrūmen (the paste-like substance) · de Klebstoff (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · cmn 士敏土 (a powdered substance) · fr ciment (the paste-like substance) · sh cèment (a powdered substance) · lo ຊີມັງ (the paste-like substance) · mg simenitra (a powdered substance) · az sement (a powdered substance) · ta பசை (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · chr ᏅᏯᎠᏰᏍᏓᎥ (a powdered substance) · vi xi măng (a powdered substance) · fr ciment (a powdered substance) · bg циме́нт (a powdered substance) · min simin (a powdered substance) · el τσιμέντο (a powdered substance) · sw simiti (the paste-like substance) · ckb چەمەنتۆ (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · hu ragasztószer (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · mn цемент (a powdered substance) · et tsement (the paste-like substance) · oc ciment (a powdered substance) · it adesivo (the paste-like substance) · lt cementas (a powdered substance) · bn সিমেন্ট (a powdered substance) · yue 水泥 (the paste-like substance) · ar أَسْمَنْت (the paste-like substance) · ka ცემენტი (a powdered substance) · tk sement (a powdered substance) · hy ցեմենտ (the paste-like substance) · hu cementpor (a powdered substance) · it adesivo (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · pt cimento (the paste-like substance) · jv semèn (a powdered substance) · cy sment (a powdered substance) · es cemento (a powdered substance) · pa ਸੀਮਿੰਟ (a powdered substance) · ta சிமிட்டி (a powdered substance) · nl cement (the paste-like substance) · kw lim (a powdered substance) · sh цѐмент (the paste-like substance) · sw sementi (a powdered substance) · de Bindemittel (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · hu ragasztóanyag (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · fi liima (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · my အင်္ဂတေ (a powdered substance) · hu cementhabarcs (the paste-like substance) · mfe sima (a powdered substance) · fa ملات (the paste-like substance) · cmn 洋灰 (a powdered substance) · ja セメント (a powdered substance) · kw lim (the paste-like substance) · yue 水泥 (a powdered substance) · si සිමෙන්ති (a powdered substance) · cmn 水泥 (the paste-like substance) · ta காரை (the paste-like substance) · ga stroighin (a powdered substance) · fr colle (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · cs cement (a powdered substance) · ro ciment (a powdered substance) · izh tsementti (the paste-like substance) · ru цеме́нт (the paste-like substance) · mt siment (a powdered substance) · nb sement (a powdered substance) · de Zementleim (the paste-like substance) · uk цеме́нт (a powdered substance) · hi सीमेंट (a powdered substance) · sw simiti (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · be цэме́нт (a powdered substance) · izh tsementti (a powdered substance) · uz tsement (a powdered substance) · ota چریش (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · ny simenti (a powdered substance) · pl cement (a powdered substance) · th ซีเมนต์ (a powdered substance) · da cement (the paste-like substance) · tl semento (a powdered substance) · he צֶמֶנְט (a powdered substance) · ga suimint (the paste-like substance) · sw sementi (the paste-like substance) · ga suimint (a powdered substance) · de Klebelösung (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · fr adhésif (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · sk cement (a powdered substance) · de Zement (a powdered substance) · es cemento (the paste-like substance) · af sement (a powdered substance) · cmn 水泥 (a powdered substance) · ms simen (a powdered substance) · hu cementtej (the paste-like substance) · sh cèment (the paste-like substance) · ckb چەمەنتۆ (a powdered substance) · ta பைஞ்சுதை (a powdered substance) · id semen (the paste-like substance) · mk цемент (a powdered substance) · bg циме́нт (the paste-like substance) · kk цемент (a powdered substance) · ml സിമന്റ് (the paste-like substance) · grc λιθόκολλα (the paste-like substance) · mi raima (a powdered substance) · ml സിമന്റ് (a powdered substance) · yi צעמענט (a powdered substance) · hrx Siment (a powdered substance) · pt cimento (a powdered substance) · tg семент (a powdered substance) · is sement (a powdered substance) · ar أَسْمَنْت (a powdered substance) · sq çimento (a powdered substance) · km ស៊ីម៉ងត៍ (a powdered substance) · ckb چەمەنتۆ (the paste-like substance) · eu zementu (a powdered substance) · hy ցեմենտ (a powdered substance) · uz sement (a powdered substance) · arz اسمنت (a powdered substance) · yue 紅毛泥 /红毛泥 (a powdered substance) · de Kleber (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · mr सिमेंट (the paste-like substance) · nrf chînment (a powdered substance) · ur سیمنٹ (a powdered substance) · my ဘိလပ်မြေ (a powdered substance) · la ferrūmen (a powdered substance) · mn цемент (the paste-like substance) · pdt Zemment (a powdered substance) · de Kitt (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · cs cement (the paste-like substance) · id semen (a powdered substance) · pt cimento (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · ca ciment (a powdered substance) · hu kötőanyag (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · ky цемент (a powdered substance) · de Zementmasse (the paste-like substance) · sl cement (a powdered substance) · ko 시멘트 (the paste-like substance) · fi sementti (the paste-like substance) · de Zement (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · nrf chînment (the paste-like substance) · ko 시멘트 (a powdered substance) · ota چمنتو (a powdered substance) · fo sement (a powdered substance) · hu tömítőanyag (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · cy sment (the paste-like substance) · nl cement (a powdered substance) · vi xi măng (the paste-like substance) · de Mörtel (the paste-like substance) · ht siman (a powdered substance) · pl cement (the paste-like substance) · fi sementti (a powdered substance) · gl cemento (a powdered substance) · fo sement (the paste-like substance) · sh цѐмент (a powdered substance) · eu porlan (a powdered substance) · scn coḍḍa (any material with strong adhesive and cohesive properties) · tr çimento (a powdered substance) · it cemento (a powdered substance)

cement en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• (US) audio
• (Australia) audio
• /ˈsi.mɛnt/ (Southern-US)
• /səˈmɛnt/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂eyd- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *kh₂éydeti Proto-Italic *kaidō Latin caedō Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥ Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥tom Proto-Italic *-mentom Latin -mentum Latin caementum Old French cimentbor. Middle English syment English cement From Middle English syment, cyment, from Old French ciment, from Latin caementum (“quarry stone; stone chips for making mortar”), from caedō (“to cut, hew”). Doublet of cementum.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To affix with cement.
2. (transitive) To overlay or coat with cement.
   • to cement a cellar floor
3. (figuratively, transitive) To unite firmly or closely.
   • For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords: but how the fear of us May cement their divisions and bind up The petty difference, we yet not know. c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:
   • Olympic Games. — Besides the ordinary confederacies that join independent states together, a singular federal bond is remarkable in the Olympic games, which for many ages cemented the Grecian commonwealths by a joint tie of recreation and religious ritual. 1840, John Dunlop, The Universal Tendency to Association in Mankind. Analyzed and Illustrated, London: Houlston and Stoneman, page 103:
4. (figuratively, transitive) To repair.
   • When neibors anger at a plea, / An' just as wud as wud can be, / How easy can the barley-bree / Cement the quarrel! 1785, Robert Burns, Scotch Drink:
5. (figuratively, transitive) To make permanent.
   • [Dele] Alli’s ability to break forward from midfield was a prominent feature and the 19-year-old must have gone a long way to cementing his place in the team. 2016 March 27, Daniel Taylor, “Eric Dier seals England’s stunning comeback against Germany”, in The Guardian, London, archived from the original on 22 Apr 2016:
   • But friendſhip is a calm and ſedate affection, conducted by reaſon and cemented by habit; ſpringing from long acquaintance and mutual obligations; without jealouſies or fears; and without thoſe feveriſh fits of heat and cold, which cauſe ſuch an agreeable torment in the amorous paſſion. 1758, David Hume, “Essay XXII. Of Polygamy and Divorces.”, in Essays and Treatises on Several Subjects, new edition, London: Printed for A[ndrew] Millar, in the Strand; and A. Kincaid and A. Donaldson, at Edinburgh, →OCLC, page 115:
   • Me and Mr. Wade, we are good friends. My respect for him has grown over these seven weeks of attacks. We are very good friends. I think but for these attacks, it would have been a friendship that, as life goes, we would have stopped having. I think that you have cemented that we'll be friends to the day we die. 2024 February 15, Fani Willis, 38:21 from the start, in See Fani Willis' entire defiant testimony in stunning courtroom moment, MSNBC, archived from the original on 16 Feb 2024:

Forms

Translations (38)

hu (cementtel) ragaszt/rögzít/erősít (to affix with cement) · cy cadarnhau (to make permanent) · sw simiti (to affix with cement) · pt cimentar (to affix with cement) · hu bebetonoz (to make permanent) · ga táthaigh (to affix with cement) · sv cementera (to affix with cement) · ga suimintigh (to affix with cement) · yi צוקלעפּן (to affix with cement) · la ferrūminō (to affix with cement) · sw simiti (to make permanent) · hu megerősít (to make permanent) · de zementieren (to make permanent) · da cementere (to affix with cement) · es encementar (to affix with cement) · hu megszilárdít (to make permanent) · es cimentar (to make permanent) · ga stroighnigh (to affix with cement) · pt consolidar (to make permanent) · de zementieren (to affix with cement) · cy cryfhau (to make permanent) · bg циментирам (to affix with cement) · ru цементи́ровать (to affix with cement) · it cementare (to affix with cement) · ta நிலைப்படுத்து (to make permanent) · pt cimentar (to make permanent) · pt firmar (to make permanent) · mt ssimenta (to affix with cement) · da cementere (to make permanent) · cy smentio (to affix with cement) · cmn 鞏固 /巩固 (to make permanent) · ja 固く結ぶ (to make permanent) · it cementare (to make permanent) · ar سَمْنَتَ (to affix with cement) · sv cementera (to make permanent) · mn цементлэх (to affix with cement) · es cementar (to affix with cement) · it consolidare (to make permanent)