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Glite Dictionary
hard lead

hard lead

8.1
Heavy metal that people make harder by adding antimony or other metals for industrial use
  • noun
  • /hɑrd lɛd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : plomo duro
  • Recycling batteries often yields hard lead containing various metallic impurities.

Examples

  • Because of its strength, hard lead is preferred in manufacturing certain pipes and casings.

  • The factory uses hard lead for its batteries.

  • Certain bullets are made from hard lead to withstand higher pressures.

  • Many manufacturers prefer hard leads for their products.

  • Because of its strength, hard lead is preferred in manufacturing certain pipes and casings.

  • Certain bullets are made from hard lead to withstand higher pressures.

  • Recycling batteries often yields hard lead containing various metallic impurities.

Synonyms

antimonial lead
vshard lead
  • Specialized
8.1

A metal made from lead and a little of another metal used to make parts stronger and resist corrosion

refers more generally to metal made harder by added impurities for industrial use

Surface Forms

hard lead singular
hard leads plural

Morphology

hard + lead

The meaning 'lead that is made harder...' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'hard' (firm, solid) with 'lead' (the metal) in a standard adjective + noun composition. Even though the term refers to a technical manufacturing process, the semantic relationship is clear and a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Hard lead comes from the simple idea of making soft lead stronger by adding a harder metal. Workers mixed in a metal like antimony so the soft, bendy lead became hard and could be used in pipes, bullets, and other parts, so hard lead means 'lead made harder for industrial use'.