block of metal
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- metal that is cast in the shape of a block for convenient handling