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Glite Dictionary
cupronickel

cupronickel

1 9.0
A metal made from copper and nickel that resists seawater and is used for coins and ship parts like pipes
  • noun
  • /ˌkjuːprəˈnɪkəl/
  • Specialized
: cuproníquel
  • Cupronickel tubes are used in the system to avoid possible corrosion problems.

Examples

  • The Soviet Union has honored two cosmonauts on cupronickel 1 ruble coins: Yuri Gagarin, the first human to go to space.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Cupronickel is commonly used for making cupronickel coins because of its excellent resistance to corrosion.

  • A cupronickel 1 tala coin of 1970 from Western Samoa, showing the Southern Cross.

    Academic text (1995)

  • Many modern cupronickel coins are made from this alloy, which ensures they last longer in circulation.

  • The ship's piping system was constructed with cupronickel to prevent rust in the salty ocean environment.

Surface Forms

cupronickel singular
cupronickels plural

Morphology

cupronickel = copper + nickel (transparent) = cupro + nickel

The word is a straightforward combination referring to an alloy of copper and nickel, which learners can infer if they know the two metals.

Etymology

Cupronickel combines cupr(o)-, from Latin 'cuprum' meaning 'copper' (think English copper), and nickel, the name of the other metal. So cupronickel means a mix of 'copper' and 'nickel', which is why it is used for coins and for ship parts because it resists salt water and does not rust easily.