noun
Uncommon
emery
EH-muh-ree
Emery (noun) means a hard, dark mineral used, in powdered or abrasive form, for grinding, sanding, or polishing. Example: “She smoothed the rough edge of the wood with emery paper.”
noun
1
A hard, dark mineral used, in powdered or abrasive form, for grinding, sanding, or polishing.
"She smoothed the rough edge of the wood with emery paper."
"An emery board is used to file and shape nails."
How to use emery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA gritty mineral used to make sanding and polishing tools, like an emery board for nails.
Common pairings
emery board
emery paper
emery cloth
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Word forms
- Plural
- emeries
- Third person singular
- emeries
- Past tense
- emeried
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She smoothed the rough edge of the wood with _____ paper.
Etymology
From French émeri, ultimately from Italian smeriglio, a name for the abrasive mineral.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for emery
See all rhymes for emery →Frequently asked questions
What does “emery” mean?
The word “emery” means a hard, dark mineral used, in powdered or abrasive form, for grinding, sanding, or polishing. In plain terms, a gritty mineral used to make sanding and polishing tools, like an emery board for nails.
How do you pronounce “emery”?
“Emery” is pronounced EH-muh-ree (/ˈɛməɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “emery” in a sentence?
Here is “emery” used in a sentence: “She smoothed the rough edge of the wood with emery paper.”
What part of speech is “emery”?
“Emery” is a noun.
Where does the word “emery” come from?
The word “emery” comes from French. From French émeri, ultimately from Italian smeriglio, a name for the abrasive mineral.
Is “emery” a common word?
“Emery” is an uncommon word in modern English.
