nickel silver
- noun
- /ˈnɪkəl ˈsɪlvər/
- Specialized
:
plata níquel
- He polished the nickel silver vase until it shone brightly on the shelf.
- nickel silver and brass
- aluminum and nickel silver
Examples
-
The artist crafted a unique sculpture using a blend of nickel silver and copper.
-
It is secured there with magnets set within a simple hilt of nickel silver.
Fiction book (2000) -
The antique shop had a beautiful collection of tableware made from nickel silver.
Synonyms
A silvery metal mix of copper, zinc, and nickel that contains no silver
How Silver-Colored
- Specialized
7
3.6
29
1.4
- Specialized
91
1.0
1
8.4
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound 'nickel silver' is formed from two metal names, so a learner who knows 'nickel' and 'silver' can reasonably infer it refers to a silvery metal or an alloy with a silver-like appearance. However, the conventional technical meaning (a specific alloy often containing no actual silver) is not predictable from the parts, so learners may be misled about its exact composition.
Etymology
Nickel silver gets its name because it contains nickel and shines like silver, even though it is not real silver. So, the name helps you remember it means a metal that 'looks like silver' rather than being real silver.