metal

noun, often attributive met·al \ ˈme-tᵊl \

Updated on: 18 Apr 2018

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 2

See metal defined for English-language learners

See metal defined for kids

Examples of metal in a Sentence

a mixture of various kinds of metal
sculptors who work in metal and clay
a mixture of different metals

Recent Examples of metal from the Web

There aren’t any metal detectors at the towering Capitol in Nebraska, either.

— alan blinder, New York Times, "Metal Detectors the Norm at Schools and Ballparks. State Capitols? Not So Much," 14 Apr. 2018
The Kings are banning any signs from being brought into the arena and have placed 6-foot-high cyclone fencing around the perimeter to funnel ticketholders toward metal detectors and the arena doors and to screen out any potential protesters.

— sam stanton, sacbee, "With another Stephon Clark protest set, security tight for Kings’ season finale | The Sacramento Bee," 11 Apr. 2018
Bags are checked, then fans are scanned with metal detector wands.

— kellie hwang, azcentral, "Country Thunder Arizona 2018: Craziest, coolest things we saw at the festival," 5 Apr. 2018
Additional security personnel will also be present on the Parkland, Fla., campus, and the school district is considering metal detectors, Runcie said at the time.

— ashley may, USA TODAY, "Parkland student fills his clear backpack with tampons, as new school security measure is in effect," 3 Apr. 2018
After going through the usual measures going of metal detectors and bag searches when entering the courthouse, people going in Boswell's court were patted down and had their bags searched again.

— becky jacobs, Post-Tribune, "Mother charged in deaths of 2 children in Gary fire pleads not guilty," 2 Apr. 2018
In a letter to students’ families last month, Superintendent Robert Runcie said the district was considering installing metal detectors and using wands.

— tim stelloh /, NBC News, "Parkland students mock new security measure — clear backpacks," 2 Apr. 2018
But unlike other shelter operators, Metanoia does not require people to show identification, register on a database, pass through metal detectors or empty their pockets.

— mark naymik, cleveland.com, "Homeless advocate needs help tackling disturbing trends: Mark Naymik," 30 Mar. 2018
Kai Koerber, a 17-year-old junior, spoke at the conference and told Teen Vogue the students have an action plan, which includes a public safety tax on firearms and metal detectors at schools.

— beatrice dupuy, Teen Vogue, "Black Marjory Stoneman Douglas Students Say Police at School Make Them "Feel Like Prisoners"," 30 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'metal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of metal

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

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First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

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

metal

verb

Definition of metal

metaled or metalled; metaling or metalling

transitive verb

: to cover or furnish with metal

First Known Use of metal

1617

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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METAL Defined for English Language Learners

metal

noun

Definition of metal for English Language Learners

: 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

METAL Defined for Kids

metal

noun met·al \ ˈme-tᵊl \

Definition of metal for Students

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