[f. L. *lāmināt-, ppl. stem of *lamināre, f. LAMINA: see -ATE3. Cf. F. laminer, It. laminare.]
1. trans. To beat or roll (metal) into thin plates.
1666. Boyle, Orig. Formes & Qual., 370. We take then the finest Gold we can procure, and having either Granulated it, or Laminated it, we dissolve it. Ibid. (1684), Porousn. Anim. & Solid Bod., vii. 108. We took good Copper laminated to the thickness of a shilling or thereabouts.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 633. Milled lead is laminated … by means of a roller or flatting-mill.
1831. J. Holland, Manuf. Metal, I. 122. The art of laminating ductile metal by passing it between a pair of rollers.
2. To separate or split into layers or leaves. Also intr. for refl.
1668. Phil. Trans., III. 783. Very many vasa lacrymalia of Glass, which by length of time were become laminated into divers leaves.
1864. Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc., XXV. II. 373. When dried by exposure, it laminates like thin slate.
1866. Rogers, Agric. & Prices, I. ii. 19. Where stone was easily laminated, a rude drain was formed by laying large stones in the course.
3. To cover or overlay with plates (of metal).
1697. Evelyn, Numism., vi. 213. Laminated only with a thin Foil … of … Metal.
1869. Latest News, 3 Oct., 15. Gold richly laminated with flowers or texts from the Alcoran.
4. To manufacture by placing layer upon layer of material.
1858. Greener, Gunnery, 224. My method of laminating steel.
1889. H. Morton, in Scribner’s Mag., Aug., 180/2. ‘Laminating the armature core,’ that is, making it up out of a great number of thin sheets of iron.
Hence Laminating vbl. sb. (in comb.).
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 406. In the operation of making it [milled lead], a laminating-roller is used.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., Laminating machine, a gold-beater’s rolling-mill for reducing the ingot of gold to such a thickness that a square inch will weigh 61/2 grains.
