often attributive
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
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
metaled or metalled; metaling or metalling
: to cover or furnish with metal
Examples of metal in a Sentence
Noun
a mixture of various kinds of metal
sculptors who work in metal and clay
a mixture of different metals
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2024
Some homes there are leveled with trees and metal lining the area.
—Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2024
This style typically comes in either metal (typically a lightweight aluminum), plastic, wood, or faux wood, which is made from PVC plastic but designed to look just like real wood.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2024
Private security guards with bikes separated the pro-Palestinian group from Israel supporters, and UCLA eventually added metal barricades after counter-protesters repeatedly tried to breach the encampment and in at least one case witnessed by The Times entered and shoved a woman to the ground.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Our reporting on this project started with Wisconsin metal foundries and continued with manufacturers of household products, electronics, boots and furniture.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Share [Findings] The playing speed of a metal guitarist directly correlates with his intrasexual competitiveness but not his mating success.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
The driver locked his car as one carjacker began to hit it with a metal rod and another pounded on the window with his hand while trying to open the door, police said.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
Dragging metal or trailer chains can cause roadside fires, which make up 26% of all wildfires started in Arizona in 2023.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024
Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2022
The particles of glass and/or metal the company found in some drinks are likely very small.
—Chris Smith, BGR, 23 Nov. 2021
The silicone holder attaches to metal vehicle surfaces (don’t try it on aluminum or fiberglass).
—Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 2 May 2018
Noun
Because of wartime restrictions on metal and wood, cabinets were open shelves.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2024
Some homes there are leveled with trees and metal lining the area.
—Lucia Suarez Sang, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2024
This style typically comes in either metal (typically a lightweight aluminum), plastic, wood, or faux wood, which is made from PVC plastic but designed to look just like real wood.
—Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Apr. 2024
Private security guards with bikes separated the pro-Palestinian group from Israel supporters, and UCLA eventually added metal barricades after counter-protesters repeatedly tried to breach the encampment and in at least one case witnessed by The Times entered and shoved a woman to the ground.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024
Our reporting on this project started with Wisconsin metal foundries and continued with manufacturers of household products, electronics, boots and furniture.
—Rick Barrett, Journal Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2024
Share [Findings] The playing speed of a metal guitarist directly correlates with his intrasexual competitiveness but not his mating success.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 24 Apr. 2024
The driver locked his car as one carjacker began to hit it with a metal rod and another pounded on the window with his hand while trying to open the door, police said.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
Dragging metal or trailer chains can cause roadside fires, which make up 26% of all wildfires started in Arizona in 2023.
—Kira Caspers, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2024
Verb
Masks, for instance, have metal nose clips, polypropylene filters and elastic headbands.
—Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2022
The particles of glass and/or metal the company found in some drinks are likely very small.
—Chris Smith, BGR, 23 Nov. 2021
The silicone holder attaches to metal vehicle surfaces (don’t try it on aluminum or fiberglass).
—Kim Campbell Thornton, sacbee, 2 May 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'metal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near metal
Cite this Entry
“Metal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metal. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
metal
noun
met·al
ˈmet-ᵊl 
: 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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