Metal is a hard substance such as iron, steel, gold, or lead.
...pieces of furniture in wood, metal and glass.
He hit his head against a metal bar.
2. See also base metal
metal in British English
(ˈmɛtəl)
noun
1.
a.
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
b.
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 (sense 1)
6. navy
a.
the total weight of projectiles that can be shot by a ship's guns at any one time
b.
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
10.
made of metal
verbWord forms: -als, -alling, -alledWord forms: US-als, -aling or -aled(transitive)
11.
to fit or cover with metal
12.
to make or mend (a road) with road metal
Derived forms
metal-like (ˈmetal-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C13: from Latin metallum mine, product of a mine, from Greek metallon
metal. in British English
or metall.
abbreviation for
1.
metallurgical
2.
metallurgy
metal in American English
(ˈmɛtəl)
noun
1.
a.
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
b.
an alloy of such elements, as brass or bronze
2.
any substance or thing consisting of metal
3.
material or substance of which someone or something is made; stuff
4.
molten cast iron
5.
molten material for making glassware
6.
heavy metal
7. Chiefly British
road metal
8. Heraldry
either of the tinctures gold (or) and silver (argent)
9. Printing
a.
type metal
b.
composed type
adjective
10.
made of metal
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈmetaled or ˈmetalled, ˈmetaling or ˈmetalling
11.
to cover or supply with metal
Word origin
OFr < L metallum, metal, mine, quarry < Gr metallon, mine, quarry
Examples of 'metal' in a sentence
metal
The women had worn heavy metal belts that were blamed if the alarms sounded.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But the treats are supposed to be subjected to a metal detector before leaving the factory.
The Sun (2016)
Precious metals miners joined the rally as gold rose against a weaker dollar.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
His presence has been compared to an opera fan discovering heavy metal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Miners of the precious metal followed suit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Heavy metal bands and extended guitar riffs are likely to get these sorts rocking.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Salt is not a precious metal.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Other metals were worked hard, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Metal detectors are already in place and the men weren't found to have offensive weapons.
The Sun (2016)
In a gesture that life must go on, the management has decided not to install metal detectors.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was left a heavy metal team by a heavy metal manager.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They have been shot through the head with metal bolts.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are to narrative what gold is to metal.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Parts of the metal were covered in blood.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Only iron and metals that contain it rust.
The Sun (2014)
Now light switches and door handles could be replaced with the metal and alloys such as brass.
The Sun (2015)
The museum is heavily guarded and all visitors have to pass through metal detectors.
The Sun (2009)
The precious metal is seen as a safe haven when times are tough.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He once banned heavy metal music and its fans were arrested.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The doctors told her that they had found a piece of metal in her head.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One of her legs had been pulled right behind the metal bar.
The Sun (2015)
Relief from the surge in prices of copper and other metals will help business all over the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The metal bands that slid around her arms and legs were fastened before she knew they were there.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
We had the trade in metals, copper and tin at a very early stage.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And the smoke from fireworks also contains toxic metals, the chemicals that give fireworks their vivid colours.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The largest contribution to the decrease came from the manufacture of basic metals, metal equipment and transport equipment.
The Sun (2015)
These contain a core of metal surrounded by hard rubber - no doubt they could cause a lot of damage if fired at close range.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
metal
British English: metal /ˈmɛtl/ NOUN
Metal is a hard substance such as iron, steel, copper, or lead.
...furniture in wood, metal and glass.
American English: metal
Arabic: مَعْدَنُ
Brazilian Portuguese: metal
Chinese: 金属
Croatian: metal
Czech: kov
Danish: metal
Dutch: metaal
European Spanish: metal
Finnish: metalli
French: métal
German: Metall
Greek: μέταλλο
Italian: metallo
Japanese: 金属
Korean: 금속
Norwegian: metall
Polish: metal
European Portuguese: metal
Romanian: metal
Russian: метал
Latin American Spanish: metal
Swedish: metall
Thai: โลหะ
Turkish: metal
Ukrainian: метал
Vietnamese: kim loại
Definition of 'metal'
Chinese translation of 'metal'
metal
(ˈmɛtl)
n(c/u)
金属(屬) (jīnshǔ) (种(種), zhǒng)
cpd
[plate, bar, rod]金属(屬) (jīnshǔ)
Usage note
Care should be taken not to confuse metal (a chemical element) with mettle (meaning `courage'). So you would write this is a real test of the club's mettle (not metal).