laminated

A stack of laminated papers sits on the teacher's desk.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Made by bonding layers: "laminated" describes an object composed of multiple thin layers pressed or fused together, often for strength, durability, or protection. This is the core meaning.
   • Covered with a protective film: In everyday use, "laminated" commonly refers to paper or card that has been sealed between layers of plastic (typically by heat or pressure) to make it waterproof, tear-resistant, or long-lasting.

Usage Examples

• Made by bonding layers:

  • The tabletop is made of laminated wood. (The surface consists of multiple thin layers of wood glued together.)
  • Laminated glass is used in car windshields to prevent shattering. (The glass has a plastic layer between two glass sheets for safety.)

• Covered with a protective film:

  • She keeps her laminated ID card in her wallet. (The card is sealed in plastic to protect it from damage.)
  • The restaurant menu is laminated so it can be wiped clean. (The menu is covered with a plastic layer for easy cleaning.)

Advanced Usage

• "Laminated object": any structure formed by stacking and bonding layers of material, such as plywood, safety glass, or composite metals.

  • The aircraft's fuselage uses laminated carbon fiber for strength. (The body is made of bonded layers of carbon fiber material.)

• "Laminated core": in electrical engineering, a core for transformers or motors made of thin insulated metal sheets to reduce energy loss.

  • The transformer's laminated core minimizes eddy currents. (The layered metal sheets reduce electrical losses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Laminate (verb): to form into a thin layer or sheet; to bond layers together.

  • They will laminate the documents for long-term preservation. (They will seal the papers in plastic.)

• Laminate (noun): a material made by laminating, often a plastic-covered sheet.

  • The countertop is a durable laminate. (The surface is a synthetic material with bonded layers.)

• Laminae (noun, plural): thin layers or sheets, especially in geology or anatomy.

  • The rock shows distinct laminae of sediment. (The rock has visible thin layers.)

Synonyms

• Layered: composed of multiple strata or sheets.
• Bonded: joined together, especially by adhesive or heat.
• Coated: covered with a layer of another material (less precise than "laminated").
• Plasticized: treated with plastic to become waterproof (often used for paper).

Related Idioms

• "Laminated" does not commonly appear in idioms. However, in technical contexts, "laminated" is used literally to describe layered materials.
  • The engineer specified laminated steel for the bridge beams. (The steel is made of bonded layers for extra strength.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Laminate (something) over: to cover a surface with a laminated layer.
  • They laminated the poster over with a protective film. (They sealed the poster in plastic.)