: 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
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Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
Key Ingredients: Squalane, coconut oil, sugar kelp extract, zinc
Best For: Providing relief for dry, irritated scalp.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
Plant nutrients that are needed in much lower quantities are boron, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur and zinc.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Taking zinc on an empty stomach typically allows for better absorption.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
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Noun
The World Museum of Mining, located on an actual mine yard, highlights Butte’s mining legacy, and the Mineral Museum on the Montana Tech campus displays agate, sapphire, copper, zinc, and more.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
Key Ingredients: Squalane, coconut oil, sugar kelp extract, zinc
Best For: Providing relief for dry, irritated scalp.
—Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 4 Mar. 2025
Plant nutrients that are needed in much lower quantities are boron, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur and zinc.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Taking zinc on an empty stomach typically allows for better absorption.
—Lindsay Curtis, Verywell Health, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for zinc
Cite this Entry
“Zinc.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinc. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.
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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
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