1. to refine or assay metals (especially gold or silver) by heating in a cupel to separate precious metals from base metals
Usage: metallurgy; technical

Examples

• The metallurgist was cupeling the gold sample to determine its purity.
• Cupeling is an essential process in precious metal refinement.
• The laboratory specializes in cupeling silver alloys for jewelry manufacturers.
• After cupeling the ore sample, they found it contained 85% pure gold.
• The ancient technique of cupeling has been used for centuries to purify metals.