a bluish-white lustrous metallic element; brittle at ordinary temperatures but malleable when heated; used in a wide variety of alloys and in galvanizing iron; it occurs naturally as zinc sulphide in zinc blende
"The galvanized steel roof was coated with a thin layer of zinc to protect the iron from rust."
A chemical element (symbol Zn) with an atomic number of 30, a slightly brittle blue-silvery metal.
"Zinc is a chemical element used to galvanize steel because it is a slightly brittle blue-silvery metal that resists corrosion."
In plain English: Zinc is a shiny, silvery metal that people use to make things last longer and protect them from rusting.
"The rusty fence was painted with zinc to prevent further corrosion."
Usage: Zinc is primarily used as the name for this bluish-white metallic element and its symbol in scientific contexts. As a verb, it specifically refers to the process of coating another material with zinc to prevent rusting.
coat or cover with zinc
"The steel beams were galvanized to coat them with a protective layer of zinc that prevents rust."
To electroplate with zinc.
"The car manufacturer decided to zinc all their new steel frames to prevent rusting."
In plain English: To zinc something means to cover it with a protective layer of metal that prevents rusting.
"The company decided to zinc all their metal roofs to protect them from rust."
The word zinc comes from the German Zink, which originally meant "point" or "prong." This root traces back to ancient terms for sharp projections like teeth or spikes.