metal

 
Pronunciation: /ˈmɛt(ə)l/

noun

[mass 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)

[with object]
  • 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

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French metal or Latin metallum, from Greek metallon 'mine, quarry, or metal'