HOW TO PRONOUNCE
copper
/ˈkɑpəɹ/
Press play to hear how to pronounce copper.
American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
Watch on YouTube ↗
Watch on YouTube ↗
What does copper mean?
noun
- A reddish-brown metallic chemical element (symbol Cu) with the atomic number 29; also, the metal made up of this element.
- The reddish-brown colour of copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- In full copper butterfly: any of various lycaenid butterflies with copper-coloured upperwings, especially those of the genera Lycaena and Paralucia.
More meanings (22)
adjective
- Made of copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- Having the reddish-brown colour of copper.
verb
- To coat or sheathe (something) with copper (etymology 1, noun sense 1).
- To give (something) a colour by applying a copper salt.
- 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.
- (figuratively) To bet against (something).
- (slang) To inform on (someone) to the police; to nark.
- (slang) To inform on someone to the police.
- (dated) To give copper coins to (someone); to pay.
- (archaic, slang) To arrest (someone).
noun
- (slang) A police officer, especially one in uniform.
- (slang) A person working as an informer for the police; a nark
- (slang) A prisoner who informs on fellow prisoners.
- (slang) A component of the cop (“conical ball of thread wound on to the spindle”) in a spinning machine.
- (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.
- (dated) A copper mug used for drinking alcoholic beverages.
- (dated) A copper sheet on which an image or writing is engraved.
- (dated) A coin, typically of a small denomination, originally made of copper and now chiefly of other metals such as bronze; specifically, an English or British penny or halfpenny; also, a United States cent; (uncountable)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.
- (dated) 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.
- (dated) A large pot, originally made of copper but later often of iron, filled with water and heated over a fire for cooking, washing clothes, etc.
- (dated, historical, slang) Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: a private detective or a security guard.
proper noun
- A surname.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈkɑpəɹ/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
They were dressed in blue, with a white cap and a Holy Spirit of silver gilt or of copper on their breast.
Between them, through the gristle of his nose, was a stout copper ring, welded on, and irremovable as Gurth’s collar of brass.
More book examples (3)
Further down still, sits a man who is going some miles beyond their place of destination, to ‘improve’ a newly-discovered copper mine.
He realized, however, that the enormous investment for copper would militate against the commercial adoption of electric lighting on an extended scale.
Crystals of sulphate of copper, chips of pine, and even tobacco-smoke, in a test-tube held before the beam, emitted a musical tone.