noun1. 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. navya. 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
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
Word origin
C13: from Latin
metallum mine, product of a mine, from Greek
metallon