To coat or electroplate an object with a thin layer of chromium metal to make it shiny, durable, and resistant to corrosion.
From 'chrome' (chromium) + 'plate' (to coat), a verb form developed in the early 20th century as chromium plating became a major industrial process.
The invention of reliable chromium plating in the 1920s was a game-changer for manufacturers—it made affordable steel products look luxurious and last longer, which is why every vintage car, motorcycle, and kitchen appliance from that era gleams with chrome.
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