Copper

n. [D. koper, Sw. koppar, Dan. kobber, Ger. kupfer, O. H. Ger. kuphar, Late Lat. cuprum, Lat. Cyprium, Cyprium æs, Gr. χαλκός Κύπριος, i. e., Cyprian brass, from Cyprus, Gr. Κύπρος, an island on the coast of Asia Minor, renowned for its rich copper mines; Sp. & Pg. cobre, Fr. cuivre.]

1Sense 1. A metal of a reddish color, ductile, malleable, and tenacious. It is among the most elastic and sonorous of the metals. It fuses at 2000° of Fahrenheit, and has a specific gravity varying from 8.8 to 8.9.

☞ It is found native, and also in various ores, of which the most important are copper pyrites, copper glance, red oxide of copper, and malachite. Copper mixed with tin forms bell-metal; with a smaller proportion, bronze; and with zinc, it forms brass, pinchbeck, and other alloys. Dana.

2Sense 2. A coin made of copper. [Colloq.]

My friends filled my pockets with coppers. Franklin.

3Sense 3. A vessel, especially a large boiler, made of copper.