metal

¹met·al

noun, often attributive \ˈme-t^əl\

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

: road metal

6

: heavy metal

Examples of METAL

1. a mixture of various kinds of metal
2. sculptors who work in metal and clay
3. a mixture of different metals

Origin of METAL

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin metallum mine, metal, from Greek metallon

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

Rhymes with METAL

fettle, kettle, mettle, nettle, petal, settle, shtetl