chrome English · revision 14986

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1800|origins=grc χρῶμα}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /krəʊm/, US /kroʊm/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|chrome]], from [[grc|χρῶμα|tr=khrôma|t=colour]] (see [[chromatic]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) because its compounds have brilliant colours.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021)^(MWU 2024)^(NODE 1998) The element was isolated in 1797–8 by the French chemist Louis Nicolas Vauquelin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The metal now called chromium: 1800.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Chrome stayed in commercial use for chrome steel after the element's name was changed to [[chromium]].^(Etymonline) Pigments from chromate of lead were called chrome in the 19th century,^(Hoad 1986) and chromium compounds for dyeing or tanning from 1876.^(OED 1989) As short for chromium plating it dates from 1937,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and the verb, to add chrome fittings to a car, from 1954.^(OED 1989) The verb, to treat with a chromium solution, is from 1876.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1797 – the element named.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1800 – chrome.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1876 – to chrome (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1937 – chromium plating.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[chromium|alt=Chromium]], especially as a pigment or dye.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Anything plated with chromium, such as the fittings of a car.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A pigment or dye containing chromium.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To plate with chromium.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To treat with a chromium compound, as in dyeing or tanning.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bichrome]]

+ * [[chromize]]

+ * [[chromic]]

+ * [[chromite]]

+ * [[chromous]]

+ * [[mercurochrome]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[chromium]]

+ * [[chromatic]]

+ * [[chromosome]]

+ * [[chroma]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}