metal

¹

[met-l]

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)

metaled, metaling , metalled, metalling .

1. to furnish or cover with metal.

2. British.,  to pave or surface (a road) with broken stone.

metal.

²

abbreviation

1. metallurgical.

2. metallurgy.

metal

¹

/ ˈmɛtəl /

noun

1. 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

2. printing type made of metal

3. the substance of glass in a molten state or as the finished product

4. short for road metal

5. informal,  short for heavy metal

6. 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

7. Also called: heavy element. astronomy any element heavier than helium

8. heraldry gold or silver

9. (plural) the rails of a railway

adjective

1. made of metal

verb

1. to fit or cover with metal

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

metal.

²

abbreviation

1. metallurgical

2. metallurgy

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.

Usage

Most metallic elements are lustrous or colorful solids that are good conductors of heat and electricity, and readily form ionic bonds with other elements. Many of their properties are due to the fact that their outermost electrons, called valence electrons, are not tightly bound to the nucleus. For instance, most metals form ionic bonds easily because they readily give up valence electrons to other atoms, thereby becoming positive ions (cations). The electrical conductivity of metals also stems from the relative freedom of valence electrons. In a substance composed of metals, the atoms are in a virtual ”sea“ of valence electrons that readily jump from atom to atom in the presence of an electric potential, creating electric current. With the exception of hydrogen, which behaves like a metal only at very high pressures, the elements that appear in the left-hand column of the Periodic Table are called alkali metals. Alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, have only one electron in their outermost shell, and are chemically very reactive. (Hydrogen is exceptional in that, although it is highly reactive, its other metallic properties are manifest only at very high pressures.) Metals farther toward the right side of the Periodic Table, such as tin and lead, have more electrons in their outermost shell, and are not as reactive. The somewhat reactive elements that fall between the two extremes are the transition elements, such as iron, copper, tungsten, and silver. In most atoms, inner electron shells must be maximally occupied by electrons before an outer shell will accept electrons, but many transition elements have electron gaps in the shell just inside the valence shell. This configuration leads to a wide variety of available energy levels for electrons to move about in, so in the presence of electromagnetic radiation such as light, a variety of frequencies are readily emitted or absorbed. Thus transition metals tend to be very colorful, and each contributes different colors to different compounds.

Other Word Forms

• metal-like adjective
• metallike adjective
• unmetaled adjective
• unmetalled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of metal¹

1250–1300; Middle English (< Old French ) < Latin metallum quarry, metal < Greek métallon mine, quarry, metal

Word History and Origins

Origin of metal¹

C13: from Latin metallum mine, product of a mine, from Greek metallon

Example Sentences

It is a criminal offence to damage or destroy a scheduled monument or use metal detectors on protected sites without consent.

From BBC

First, iron ore is dissolved into an acidic solution and then an electrical charge causes the iron to collect onto metal plates.

From BBC

His photograph shows the yellow-and-white train, a tangle of metal, on the corner of the narrow alley under a Subway restaurant sign, with the other train at the bottom of the hill below it.

From BBC

Claudine Singer, 72, brings knee pads so she can crouch in the street to scrape out the gutters with a metal claw.

From Los Angeles Times

The price of gold has hit a record high as demand for the precious metal remains strong amid global economic uncertainty.

From BBC

Related Words

• alloy 
• hardware 
• ingot 
• mineral 
• ore