/ˈmɛ.təl/
OriginFrom Middle English metal, a borrowing from Old French metal, from Latin metallum (“metal, mine, quarry, mineral”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon, “mine, quarry, metal”).
- countable, uncountableAny of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny, somewhat malleable and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.
“Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated.”
“Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere — an invisible bubble of magnetism generated by the powerful churning of molten metals at Earth’s core.”
- countable, uncountableAny material with similar physical properties as those chemical elements, especially as a combination of several of them, such as an alloy.
“But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The li”
- countable, uncountableAn element which was not directly created after the Big Bang but instead formed through nuclear reactions; any element other than hydrogen and helium.
“Most of the matter in stars is hydrogen and helium, and the metals (including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and so on) were cooked up inside stars.”
“2008, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Geochemical Society, Oxygen in the solar system, Mineralogical Society of Amer →ISBN
Thus, for the remaining elements, including oxygen, the solid phase appears to”
“Metals include oxygen and carbon which means that water and organic molecules would have been abundant in the early universe, perhaps paving the way for the emergence of life within a couple of billio”
- countable, uncountableCrushed rock, stones etc. used to make a road.
“One of the most important tasks was the metalling of the roads, and the dumping of metal beside them in parts where it was impossible to lay it, in order that work might commence with the assault. The”
- countable, uncountableThe ore from which a metal is derived.
- countable, obsolete, uncountableA mine from which ores are taken.
“slaves[…]and persons condemned to metals”
- countable, uncountableA light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent (white or silver) and or (gold).
- countable, uncountableMolten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.
- countable, uncountableA category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drumbeats and distorted guitars.
“While the motive is still under investigation, authorities said that Matthews’ interest in black metal music may have influenced his behavior.”
- archaic, countable, figuratively, uncountableThe substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper.
“Leonato. Well, neece, I hope to ſee you one day fitted with a husband. / Beatrice. Not till God make men of ſome other mettall then earth, would it not grieue a woman to be over-maſtred with a peece o”
- countable, uncountableThe effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.
- UK, countable, in-plural, uncountableThe rails of a railway.
- countable, informal, uncountableThe actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.
“We have American Airlines tickets, but it's on British Airways metal.”
- Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.
- Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.
“The beast will destroy everything in his path
With this song on the upcoming brawl
It sure is a long one and tough to pronounce but
It's the most metal title of all”
“Top tip: Bowling gloves are for sissies, although they look metal as fuck.”
- To make a road using crushed rock, stones etc.
Formsmetals(plural) · more metal(comparative) · most metal(superlative) · metals(present, singular, third-person) · metaling(US, participle, present) · metalling(UK, participle, present) · metaled(US, participle, past) · metaled(US, past) · metalled(UK, participle, past) · metalled(UK, past)