cement
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for cement, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A grey powder made from limestone and clay that hardens into a solid mass when mixed with water; the main binding ingredient in concrete.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use cement
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French ciment, from Latin caementum, "quarry stone" or "stone chips used in mortar."
Full origin of cement →Frequently asked questions
What does “cement” mean?
The word “cement” means a grey powder made from limestone and clay that hardens into a solid mass when mixed with water; the main binding ingredient in concrete. In plain terms, a powder that hardens with water and binds building materials together — or, figuratively, to make something solid and lasting (like a friendship or reputation).
How do you pronounce “cement”?
“Cement” is pronounced suh-MEHNT (/səˈmɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “cement” in a sentence?
Here is “cement” used in a sentence: “They mixed cement with sand and gravel to make concrete.”
What part of speech is “cement”?
Depending on how it is used, “cement” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “cement” come from?
The word “cement” comes from Latin. From Old French ciment, from Latin caementum, "quarry stone" or "stone chips used in mortar.".
Is “cement” a common word?
“Cement” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “cement” have?
“Cement” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a grey powder made from limestone and clay that hardens into a solid mass when mixed with water; the main binding ingredient in concrete.
What is the difference between cement and concrete?
Cement is a grey powder made from limestone and clay, while concrete is the finished material made by mixing cement with water, sand, and gravel. In short, cement is an ingredient, and concrete is the hardened product that contains it.
What is the difference between cement and mortar?
Cement is the powdered binder itself, whereas mortar is a paste of cement, sand, and water used to hold bricks or blocks together. Mortar contains cement but is softer and stickier than concrete.