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Metal   /mˈɛtəl/   Listen
noun
Metal  n.  
1.
(Chem.) An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc. Note: Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, etc., and also to the mixed metals, or metallic alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell metal, etc.
2.
Ore from which a metal is derived; so called by miners.
3.
A mine from which ores are taken. (Obs.) "Slaves... and persons condemned to metals."
4.
The substance of which anything is made; material; hence, constitutional disposition; character; temper. "Not till God make men of some other metal than earth."
5.
Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle. Note: The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword blade.
6.
The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.
7.
The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.
8.
Glass in a state of fusion.
9.
pl. The rails of a railroad. (Eng.)
Base metal (Chem.), any one of the metals, as iron, lead, etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized, in contrast with the noble metals. In general, a metal of small value, as compared with gold or silver.
Fusible metal (Metal.), a very fusible alloy, usually consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium.
Heavy metals (Chem.), the metallic elements not included in the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths, or the earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury, platinum, lead, silver, etc.
Light metals (Chem.), the metallic elements of the alkali and alkaline earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.; also, sometimes, the metals of the earths, as aluminium.
Muntz metal, an alloy for sheathing and other purposes, consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of zinc. Sometimes a little lead is added. It is named from the inventor.
Prince's metal (Old Chem.), an alloy resembling brass, consisting of three parts of copper to one of zinc; also called Prince Rupert's metal.


verb
Metal  v. t.  (past & past part. metaled or metalled; pres. part. metaling or metalling)  To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.





Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48


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"Metal" Quotes from Famous Books



... steede of matchless speede, A sworde of metal keane; All else to noble mindes is drosse; All else on earthe ...
— Australia Twice Traversed, The Romance of Exploration • Ernest Giles
... into the space surrounding the cover. Later came the screw-top jar shown in Fig. 3. This type of jar has been extensively used with excellent results. Both the mouth of this jar and the jar top, which is made of metal, usually zinc, lined with glass or porcelain, have threads that match, and the jar is sealed by placing the jar rubber over the top, or ridge, of the jar and then screwing the jar top firmly in place. Such jars, however, are more difficult to ...
— Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5 • Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
... of the pretended light of this age is darkness and ignorance. I do not speak of errors only that come forth in the garments of new light, but especially of the vulgar knowledge of the truth of religion, which is far adulterated from the true metal and stamp of divine knowledge, by the intermixture of the gross darkness of our affections and conversation, as that other is from the naked truth, and therefore both of them are found light in the balance of the sanctuary, and counterfeit by ...
— The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning • Hugh Binning
... through the pipe, b, down into the first of the annular troughs above mentioned, and afterward overflows these troughs in succession until it reaches the bottom. Mr. Moy claims to have secured by this means a boiler of quick steaming capacity, together with a reduction in the weight of metal, and considerable economy of fuel. By the arrangement of the water in a number of shallow layers a large steaming surface is obtained, and there is a good steam space rendered available round the troughs. The water ...
— Scientific American Supplement, No. 312, December 24, 1881 • Various
... took charge of the return journey to the railroad, and the two women rode to the jingling accompaniment of metal trappings. When at last they were safely aboard the north-bound train, Alaire mildly teased Dolores about her recent timidity. But Dolores was not to ...
— Heart of the Sunset • Rex Beach


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