metal









metal


noun

  1. any of a class of elementary substances, as gold, silver, or copper, all of which are crystalline when solid and many of which are characterized by opacity, ductility, conductivity, and a unique luster when freshly fractured.
  2. Chemistry.
    1. such a substance in its pure state, as distinguished from alloys.
    2. an element yielding positively charged ions in aqueous solutions of its salts.
  3. an alloy or mixture composed wholly or partly of such substances, as brass.
  4. an object made of metal.
  5. formative material; stuff.
  6. mettle.
  7. Printing.
    1. type metal.
    2. the state of being set in type.
  8. molten glass in the pot or melting tank.
  9. British. road metal.

verb (used with object), met·aled, met·al·ing or (especially British) met·alled, met·al·ling.

  1. to furnish or cover with metal.
  2. British. to pave or surface (a road) with broken stone.

  1. metallurgical.
  2. metallurgy.

noun

    1. any of a number of chemical elements, such as iron or copper, that are often lustrous ductile solids, have basic oxides, form positive ions, and are good conductors of heat and electricity
    2. an alloy, such as brass or steel, containing one or more of these elements
  1. printing type made of metal
  2. the substance of glass in a molten state or as the finished product
  3. short for road metal
  4. informal short for heavy metal (def. 1)
  5. navy
    1. the total weight of projectiles that can be shot by a ship’s guns at any one time
    2. the total weight or number of a ship’s guns
  6. Also called: heavy element astronomy any element heavier than helium
  7. heraldry gold or silver
  8. (plural) the rails of a railway

adjective

  1. made of metal

verb -als, -alling or -alled or US -als, -aling or -aled (tr)

  1. to fit or cover with metal
  2. to make or mend (a road) with road metal

abbreviation for

  1. metallurgical
  2. metallurgy

n.mid-13c., from Old French metal “metal; material, substance, stuff” (12c.), from Latin metallum “metal; mine, quarry, mineral, what is got by mining,” from Greek metallon “metal, ore” (senses only in post-classical texts; originally “mine, quarry, pit”), probably from metalleuein “to mine, to quarry,” of unknown origin, but related somehow to metallan “to seek after.” Cf. Greek metalleutes “a miner,” metalleia “a searching for metals, mining.” adj.late 14c., from metal (n.). n.

  1. Any of a category of electropositive elements that usually reflect light, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wires. Typical metals form salts with nonmetals, basic oxides with oxygen, and alloys with one another.
  2. An alloy of two or more metallic elements.
  3. An object made of metal.

  1. Any of a large group of chemical elements, including iron, gold, copper, lead, and magnesium, that readily become cations and form ionic bonds, having relatively free valence electrons (electrons in the outer shells). Metals are generally good conductors of electricity because of the freedom of their valence electrons. Metals generally conduct heat well, and in solid form are relatively malleable and ductile compared to other solids. They are usually shiny and opaque. All metals except mercury are solid at room temperature.
  2. An alloy, such as steel or bronze, made of two or more metals.
  3. In astronomy, any atom except hydrogen and helium.
  4. Small stones or gravel, mixed with tar to form tarmac for the surfacing of roads.
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