inlay
/ˈɪnleɪ/
verb
- To set or embed a decorative material into a surface.
- They plan to inlay a silver pattern into the handle of the knife.
- She learned how to inlay shells into furniture during her woodworking class.
- The artist will inlay tiny pieces of turquoise into the wooden frame.
noun
- A decorative design or pattern set into a surface, often made of wood, metal, or stone.
- The craftsman spent hours creating the wooden inlay for the floor.
- The table had a beautiful inlay of mother-of-pearl.
- She admired the intricate inlay on the antique jewelry box.
- A filling used by a dentist to repair a tooth, made to fit the cavity exactly.
- After the inlay was placed, the tooth felt strong and natural.
- He needed an inlay because the cavity was too large for a simple filling.
- The dentist recommended a gold inlay for the cracked molar.