cement mixer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Formal: Technical/Construction; Informal: Colloquial/Slang
Quick answer
What does “cement mixer” mean?
A truck or machine with a rotating drum, used for transporting and mixing concrete (cement, sand, gravel, and water).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A truck or machine with a rotating drum, used for transporting and mixing concrete (cement, sand, gravel, and water).
Informal term for a mixed drink containing various spirits and juices; also slang for a stomach after consuming a messy mix of drinks.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK: More commonly just 'cement mixer'. US: Often called a 'concrete mixer' or 'mixer truck' in professional contexts, though 'cement mixer' is widely understood.
Connotations
UK: Directly associated with construction sites. US: 'Concrete mixer' is the technically precise term in industry; 'cement mixer' may be seen as slightly less formal.
Frequency
Similar frequency in general language, but US professional terminology prefers 'concrete mixer'.
Grammar
How to Use “cement mixer” in a Sentence
The [builder/contractor] used a cement mixer to [pour the foundation/mix the concrete].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cement mixer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We'll need to cement-mixer the ingredients on site.
American English
- They had to concrete-mix the patio base manually.
adjective
British English
- He had a cement-mixer stomach after the party.
American English
- It was a real concrete-mixer of a cocktail.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A plant hire company added three new cement mixers to its fleet.
Academic
The study compared the efficiency of traditional cement mixers versus newer volumetric models.
Everyday
The noise from the cement mixer next door woke us up early.
Technical
Ensure the cement mixer's drum rotation speed complies with ASTM C94 standards.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cement mixer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cement mixer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cement mixer”
- Using 'cement' and 'concrete' interchangeably in technical contexts. Cement is a powder ingredient; concrete is the final mixed product.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Technically, 'concrete mixer' is more accurate, as cement is just one ingredient. However, 'cement mixer' is common in general English.
Not in standard use. It's exclusively a machine or a metaphorical slang term for a drink/stomach.
It's a known cocktail name (typically involving Irish cream and lime juice), but it's informal/novelty bar slang, not a standard drink term.
Because it mixes ingredients while in transit to the construction site, as opposed to mixing at a plant.
A truck or machine with a rotating drum, used for transporting and mixing concrete (cement, sand, gravel, and water).
Cement mixer is usually formal: technical/construction; informal: colloquial/slang in register.
Cement mixer: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈmɛnt ˈmɪksə/, and in American English it is pronounced /səˈmɛnt ˈmɪksər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Like a cement mixer' (describing something very noisy or clumsy).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CEMENT MIXER: Cement gets MIXed in a spinneR.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR MIXING (source domain: tools/containers; target domain: creation, combination, or disorder).
Practice
Quiz
In US professional construction terminology, which term is most precise?