Definition

Noun: A solid piece of metal that has been formed into a rectangular or other regular shape for ease of handling, storage, or transportation. It is a basic, often heavy, unit of raw material.

Usage

The term "block of metal" refers to the physical object itself. It is typically used in industrial, manufacturing, or metallurgical contexts. - It functions as the subject or object of a sentence. - It is often modified by adjectives describing the type of metal (e.g., a solid block of metal, a pure block of metal).

Examples

• The foundry produced a block of metal for the machining workshop.
• He lifted the heavy block of metal onto the workbench.
• The sculpture was carved from a single block of metal.

Advanced Usage

• "ingot": While often used synonymously, an is a specific type of block of metal, typically with a characteristic shape (like a trapezoidal bar) produced by casting for further processing.
  • Gold is often stored and traded as ingots.
• The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe something very heavy, solid, or immovable.
  • After the workout, my legs felt like blocks of metal.

Variants and Related Words

• Ingot (n): A block of cast metal, especially one of a standard shape or mass.
• Billet (n): A small, usually rectangular, block of metal, often a semi-finished product.
• Slab (n): A thick, flat piece of metal, stone, or other solid material.
• Metal block (n phrase): A less common alternative phrasing with the same meaning.

Synonyms

• Metal ingot
• Metal slab
• Cast metal block

Notes

"Block of metal" is a compound noun. The core word being defined and exemplified is the full phrase itself. It describes a specific, tangible item rather than an abstract concept.

Noun

1. metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling