See Also: zinc(dictionary)
zinc(encyclopedia)
Zinc(medicine)
zinc(dictionary)
zinc-65(medicine)
zinc poisoning(medicine)
zinc phosphide(medicine)
zinc phenolsulfonate(medicine)
zinc peroxide(medicine)
zinc permanganate(medicine)

zinc (iou)



zinc noun & verb. M17.
[German Zink, Zinken, of unkn. origin. In sense A.3 from French.]
A. noun.
A hard lustrous bluish-white metallic chemical element, atomic no. 30, which is obtained from sphalerite and other ores, and is used for roofing, galvanizing iron, and making alloys with copper etc. (Symbol Zn.) M17.
Galvanized iron. L19.
The zinc-covered bar of a cafe or public house; transf. a cafe. E20.
Phrases: flowers of zinc crude zinc oxide. ruby zinc: see RUBY noun & adjective.
Comb.: zinc-air adjective designating a type of primary cell employing a zinc anode, a porous carbon cathode using atmospheric oxygen, and an alkaline electrolyte; zinc blende = SPHALERITE; zinc chloride a white, crystalline, deliquescent solid, ZnCl2, with numerous uses as a catalyst, polish, antiseptic, etc.; zinc chromate a toxic, yellow, water-insoluble powder, ZnCrO4, used as a pigment; zinc chrome = zinc yellow below; zinc-coated adjective (of iron etc.) coated with a layer of zinc to prevent rust; zinc finger Biochemistry a finger-like loop of peptides enclosing a bound zinc ion at one end, usu. part of a larger protein molecule (esp. one regulating transcription); zinc green a mixture of zinc and cobalt oxides used as a pigment; zinc grey a grey colour resembling that of zinc; zinc ointment: containing zinc oxide; zinc ore any ore used as a source of zinc, esp. sphalerite; zinc oxide a water-insoluble white powder, ZnO, used as a pigment, and in ointments, ceramics, etc. (also called Chinese white, zinc white); zinc roof a corrugated roof of galvanized iron; zinc sulphide a yellow, water-insoluble powder, ZnS, used as a pigment and as a phosphor; zinc white zinc oxide used as a white paint; zinc yellow a greenish-yellow pigment consisting principally of zinc chromate.
b. verb trans. Cover or coat (iron etc.) with zinc or a compound of zinc to prevent rust; treat with zinc. Freq. as zinced ppl adjective. M17.
zincate noun a salt containing oxyanions of zinc L19.
zincian adjective (of a mineral) having a proportion of a constituent element replaced by zinc M20.
zincic adjective (now rare) of, pertaining to, or containing zinc M19.
zincifi'cation noun (now rare) the process of zincing L19.