red lead

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/lɛd/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(led)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
red′ lead′  (led),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Chemistryan orange to red, heavy, earthy, water-insoluble, poisonous powder, Pb3O4, obtained by heating litharge in the presence of air: used chiefly as a paint pigment, in the manufacture of glass and glazes, and in storage batteries. Also called minium. Cf. litharge. 
  • late Middle English 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
red lead / lɛd/
  1. a bright-red poisonous insoluble oxide of lead usually obtained as a powder by heating litharge in air. It is used as a pigment in paints. Formula: Pb3O4
'red lead' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
lead oxide - litharge - minium - putty - red-lead putty - red-pencil

Forum discussions with the word(s) "red lead" in the title:


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