metalnoun [ C or U ]
uk/ˈmet.əl/us/ˈmet̬.əl/B1 a chemical element, such as iron or gold, or a mixture of such elements, such as steel, that is generally hard and strong, and through which electricity and heat can travel:
Metal, paper, and glass can be recycled.
Silver, gold, and platinum are precious metals.
The wooden beam is reinforced with a metal plate.
More examples
- The explosion sent pieces of metal and glass hurtling through the air.
- All that remains of yesterday's car crash is a pile of mangled metal.
- As the hot metal passed between the huge rollers it was pressed into thin sheets.
- Lead and tin are malleable metals.
- This new drill works very well on hard metals.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Chemistry: metals & metalworking
- amalgam
- arc welding
- brass
- cast iron
- Duralumin
- ferromagnetic
- ferromagnetism
- gilt
- heavy metal
- magneto
- metallurgy
- metalwork
- pewter
- silver plate
- soldering iron
- spot-welding
- titanium
- tungsten
- weld
- welder
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