noun
- any of a class of chemical elements, as iron, gold, or aluminum, generally characterized by ductility, malleability, luster, and conductivity of heat and electricity: these elements act as cations in chemical reactions, form bases with the hydroxyl radical, and can replace the hydrogen of an acid to form a salt
- an alloy of such elements, as brass or bronze
- any substance or thing consisting of metal
- material or substance of which someone or something is made; stuff
- molten cast iron
- molten material for making glassware
- heavy metal
- Chiefly Brit. road metal
- Heraldry either of the tinctures gold (or) and silver (argent)
- Printing
- type metal
- composed type
Origin:
OFr < L metallum, metal, mine, quarry < Gr metallon, mine, quarry
transitive verb metaled or metalled, metaling or metalling
to cover or supply with metal