See Also: Metal(medicine)
pot-metal(dictionary)
metal(dictionary)
metal(2)(dictionary)
metal(1)(dictionary)
metal(encyclopedia)
misch metal(dictionary)
Muntz metal(dictionary)
Metal detector(tourism)
RED METAL Limited(finance)

metal(1) (iou)



metal noun & adjective. Also mettle. See also METTLE. ME.
[Old & mod. French metal, metail or its source Latin metallum mine, quarry, metal from synon. Greek metallon.]
A. noun.
I.
a. Any of the class of substances including the elements gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, and tin, and certain alloys (as brass and bronze), characteristically lustrous, ductile, fusible, malleable solids that are good conductors of heat and electricity; Chemistry an element that readily forms positive ions. ME.
base metal: see BASE adjective. precious metal: see PRECIOUS adjective.
Adam Smith The durableness of metals is the foundation of this steadiness of price.
b. Material of this nature; spec. (a) as that of arms and armour; (b) cast iron. ME.
Britannia metal, gun-metal, Wood's metal, etc.
Shakespeare King John That I must draw this metal from my side To be a widow-maker! Rachel Anderson We heard the metal click as the latch on the big gate was lifted. M. Brett A contract for delivery of a ton of metal.
c. Precious metal, gold. rare (Shakes.). L16-E17.
Ore. ME.
a. An object made of metal; spec. (a) a medal, a coin; (b) a metal reflector of a telescope. LME-L18.
b. In pl. The rails of a railway or tramway. M19.
N. Wooler Oil gas..remained in use right up until the 1960s, particularly on London Midland metals.
Heraldry. Either of the tinctures or and argent. LME.
Material, matter, substance; esp. earthy matter. M16.
Molten glass before it is blown or cast. L16.
The metal composing the barrel of a gun; (also line of metal) a gunner's line of sight (chiefly in under metal, over metal); the guns or fire-power of a warship etc. (chiefly in weight of metal). L16.
A specific alloy used in any particular craft or trade. Freq. with preceding adjective or noun E18.
Hardened clay, shale; rock met with in the course of mining; in pl., strata containing minerals. Chiefly Scot. E18.
Broken stone for use in making roads (also road-metal) or as ballast for railway lines. L18.
ellipt. = heavy metal s.v. HEAVY adjective & noun. L20.
II. See METTLE noun.
b. attrib. or as adjective.
Var. of METTLE adjective. Only in L16.
Made or consisting of metal; metallic. E17.
M. S. Power She washed him in the big metal tub in front of the fire.
Comb. & special collocations: metal age a period when weapons and tools were commonly made of copper, bronze, or iron; metal arc welding arc welding in which the melting of a metal electrode provides the joining material; metal-detector an instrument for detecting metallic objects under the ground from their magnetic effects above ground; metal fatigue: see FATIGUE noun 2b; Metalflake (proprietary name for) a protective metallic paint, varnish, etc., containing coloured chips of laminated or metallized film; metal GUITAR; metalmark any butterfly of the predominantly S. American family Riodinidae, many members of which have brilliant metallic markings on the wings; metal thread = METALLIC thread; metalware utensils or other articles made of metal; metalwork (a) work, esp. artistic work, in metal; the art of working in metal; (b) in pl., a factory where metal is produced; metalworker a worker in metal, a craftsman or -woman who works in metal.