bronze

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. Any of various alloys of copper and tin in various proportions, sometimes with traces of other metals.
2. n. Any of various alloys of copper, with or without tin, and antimony, phosphorus, or other components.
3. n. A work of art made of one of these alloys.
4. n. A medal made of bronze awarded to one placing third in a competition, as in the Olympics.
5. n. A moderate yellowish to olive brown.
6. n. A pigment of this color.
7. adj. Made of or consisting of bronze.
8. adj. Of a moderate yellowish to olive brown.
9. v. To give the color or appearance of bronze to.
10. v. To make brown by exposure to the sun; tan.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. An alloy of which copper forms the predominating portion, and into the composition of which tin almost always enters: but the name is also given to alloys containing no tin. The proportion of copper in various bronzes is usually between 80 and 90 per cent.; in some it falls as low as 70. The proportion of tin in the bronzes of different ages and those used for various purposes is almost as variable as that of copper. Bronze used for bells has the largest amount of tin; in some it reaches 25 per cent. The bronze formerly used for cannon contained about 10 per cent. of tin and often a small amount of zinc. Statuary bronze is, and has been from the beginning of its use for the purpose, of very variable composition. In some statuary called bronze there is less than 1 per cent. of tin, while zinc is present in sufficient quantity almost to justify calling the material brass. The zinc in various pieces of statuary cast within the past two or three hundred years, and erected in some of the principal cities of Europe, varies in quantity from less than 1 per cent. to 25. Lead is present in many bronzes, but usually in small amount, rarely being as much as 3 per cent. Bronze is an alloy of importance to both the arts and commerce, and is also of great historical interest, since it has been known from remote ages over a large part of the world. It is preferred to simple unalloyed copper, on account both of its color and of its greater durability. Among prehistoric races the use of bronze preceded that of iron; and among their remains are found swords, axes, and other cutting instruments of this material, sometimes artistically made and ornamented, as well as domestic implements and utensils of many kinds. The ancient Greeks, Romans, etc., made statuary of it in enormous quantities, and also coins, recording tablets, and a great variety of articles of common use. It is now not only used for cannon (for which purpose it has been to a great extent supplanted by steel), bells, and statuary, but also for parts of various machines, especially bearings, and for screw-propellers. The beauty and durability of bronze statuary depend in no small degree on the color and composition of the oxidized film or incrustation which forms upon it when it is exposed to the weather. This is called its patina (which see). In recent times numerous experiments have been made with a view to improve the quality of bronze in various ways, in particular by the addition of small quantities of other substances, especially metals. The most important result of these experiments seems to be phosphor-bronze, an alloy patented by two Belgian metallurgists about 1870, and now extensively used where toughness and resistance to wear are required. The amount of phosphorus in phosphor-bronze is less than 1 per cent., and the effect it produces is probably due to its reducing action on the oxids of the other metals during the process of manufacture. Phosphor-bronze is of finer grain and color, and is believed to be much more durable, than ordinary bronze; and it is thought by many that it will eventually be proved to be the best material for artillery. Extensive experiments have also been made with manganese, lead, and other metals. Aluminium bronze is an alloy of copper and aluminium now in use, especially where tensile strength is required. So-called steel bronze is bronze hardened by mechanical compression. It has not come into general use, but was intended by its inventor to be used for cannon. See aluminium.
2. n. A work of art, as a statuette, bust, or model, composed of bronze, whether cast or wrought.
3. n. A brown pigment or coloring substance resembling bronze; bronze-powder.
4. n. Boldness; impudence; brass.
5. Made of or resembling bronze: as, a bronze statue.
6. Characterized by the use of bronze: as, the bronze age.
7. To make brown or of the color of bronze, as by exposure to the sun.
8. To give the color or appearance of bronze to, as by applying copper-dust or -leaf to the surface, etc.
9. To harden or make like bronze; hence, figuratively, to make hard or unfeeling.

Wiktionary

1. n. A natural or man-made alloy of copper, usually of tin, but also with one or more other metals.
2. n. A reddish-brown colour, the colour of bronze.
3. n. A work of art made of bronze, especially a sculpture.
4. n. A bronze medal
5. adj. Made of bronze metal.
6. adj. Having a reddish-brown colour.
7. adj. Tanned; darkened as a result of exposure to the sun.
8. v. To plate with bronze.
9. v. To color bronze.
10. v. To change to a bronze or tan colour due to exposure to the sun.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. An alloy of copper and tin, to which small proportions of other metals, especially zinc, are sometimes added. It is hard and sonorous, and is used for statues, bells, cannon, etc., the proportions of the ingredients being varied to suit the particular purposes. The varieties containing the higher proportions of tin are brittle, as in bell metal and speculum metal.
2. n. A statue, bust, etc., cast in bronze.
3. n. A yellowish or reddish brown, the color of bronze; also, a pigment or powder for imitating bronze.
4. n. Boldness; impudence; “brass.”
5. v. To give an appearance of bronze to, by a coating of bronze powder, or by other means; to make of the color of bronze.
6. v. To make hard or unfeeling; to brazen.

WordNet 3.0

1. v. give the color and appearance of bronze to something
2. n. an alloy of copper and tin and sometimes other elements; also any copper-base alloy containing other elements in place of tin
3. v. get a tan, from wind or sun
4. adj. made from or consisting of bronze
5. adj. of the color of bronze
6. n. a sculpture made of bronze