Copper Is Named After Cyprus
Copper is a reddish metal. Its name and its chemical symbol both point to the island that supplied the Roman world.
Copper is a soft reddish metal, an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. The name records its source: Romans called it *aes Cyprium*, metal of Cyprus, which shortened to *cuprum* — hence the chemical symbol Cu and the English word. British slang for a police officer is a separate word, from *cop*, to catch.
- A reddish metal. *Copper wire.*
- A coin. *A few coppers.*
- A police officer (British slang). *A copper on the beat.*
- A reddish-brown colour. *Copper hair.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | copper | Sheet copper. |
| Adjective | copper | Copper piping. |
| Symbol | Cu | Element Cu. |
| Related | bronze | Copper and tin. |
| Related | brass | Copper and zinc. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Copper turns green as it weathers.The patina is copper carbonate.
- Copper wiring carries the current.Second only to silver in conductivity.
- Copper surfaces kill bacteria.A property used in hospitals.
Copper facts
- Symbol Cu — from Latin *cuprum*, from Cyprus
- Conductivity — second only to silver among metals
- Patina — the green layer on old roofs and statues
- Antimicrobial — bacteria die on copper surfaces
- Alloys — bronze with tin, brass with zinc
From Old English *coper*, from Latin *cuprum*, a shortening of *aes Cyprium*, metal of Cyprus. The police sense comes from *cop*, to seize.
Why is the symbol Cu?
From Latin *cuprum*, the Roman name for the metal, taken from the island of Cyprus.
Is a police copper named after the metal?
No. It comes from the verb *cop*, meaning to catch or seize, which is unrelated.