noun / adjective / verb
tin
TIN/tɪn/
A silvery metal used to coat other metals.
The silvery tin ingot rests beside a thin strip of the same metal.
Etymology
Old English tin already named the metal; its deeper origin is unknown. Its resistance to oxidation made it useful as a protective coating on iron pots and pans.
In context
the world switched to lead-free technologies. Today, the latest circuit boards are joined using alloys where tin makes up 95 or even 99%
More examples
- Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.
- The tin lining inside this copper pot needs repair.
- Workers tin the copper parts before joining them.
Forms
tin · tins · tinned · tinning
tinplate noun — Iron or steel coated with tin.