emery

views updated Jun 11 2018

em·er·y / ˈem(ə)rē/ • n. a grayish-black mixture of corundum and magnetite, used in powdered form as an abrasive. ∎  [as adj.] denoting materials coated with emery for polishing, smoothing, or grinding: emery paper.ORIGIN: late 15th cent.: from French émeri, from Old French esmeri, from Italian smeriglio, based on Greek smuris, smiris ‘polishing powder.’

emery

views updated May 18 2018

emery coarse corundum for polishing. XV. — F. émeri(l), var. of †esmeril — It. smeriglio :- Rom. *smericulum, f. medGr. smērí, Gr. smúris polishing powder (see SMEAR).

emery

views updated May 08 2018

emery A greyish-black variety of corundum (Al2O3) which can be crushed and powdered for use as an abrasive for polishing hard surfaces.