metal

noun

• 1a solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g. iron, gold, silver, and aluminium, and alloys such as steel):an adjustable pole made of metal [count noun]:being a metal, aluminium readily conducts heat
• (metals) the steel tracks of a railway: the locomotive is presently being made ready for operation over Network SouthEast metals
• Heraldry gold and silver (as tinctures in blazoning).

• 2 (also road metal) broken stone for use in road-making: the work also involves dealing with rock aggregates for potential use as suitable road metal

• 3molten glass before it is blown or cast.

• 4heavy metal or similar rock music: industrial music is also a blend of metal and techno [with modifier]:crunching power-trio metal

verb (metals, metalling, metalled; North American metals, metaling, metaled)

• 1 (as adjective metalled) made from or coated with metal: a range of metalled key rings

• 2 (usually as adjective metalled) British make or mend (a road) with road metal: follow the metalled road for about 200 yards the road was metalled and tolls charged for the upkeep