First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1metal
noun, met·al often attributive \ˈme-təl\
: a substance (such as gold, tin, or copper) that usually has a shiny appearance, is a good conductor of electricity and heat, can be melted, and is usually capable of being shaped
Full Definition of METAL
1
: any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides; especially : one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
2
a : mettle 1a b : the substance out of which a person or thing is made
3
: glass in its molten state
4
a : printing type metal b : matter set in metal type
5
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Origin of METAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin metallum mine, metal, from Greek metallon
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
2metal
verb
metaled or metalledmetal·ing or metal·ling
Definition of METAL
transitive verb
: to cover or furnish with metal
First Known Use of METAL
1617
METALING Defined for Kids
metal
noun met·al \ˈme-təl\
Definition of METAL for Kids
1
: a substance (as gold, tin, copper, or bronze) that has a more or less shiny appearance, is a good conductor of electricity and heat, and usually can be made into a wire or hammered into a thin sheet
2
: mettle
Medical Dictionary
metal
noun met·al \ˈmet-əl\
Medical Definition of METAL
: any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides; especially : one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
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