Definition

1. Noun:

   • A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity: "Metal" refers to a category of chemical elements, such as iron, gold, or copper, or an alloy (mixture) of such elements.
   • Broken stone used for road surfaces or railway ballast: "Metal" can also refer to crushed rock used in construction, especially for roads or railroad beds.
   • (plural, metals) Railway tracks: The term "metals" can refer to the rails of a railway line.

2. Verb:

   • To cover or fit with metal: The action of applying a metal layer or component to something.
   • To surface (a road) with broken stone: The action of covering a road with crushed rock.

3. Adjective:

   • Made of or resembling metal; having the characteristics of a metal: Describing something that contains metal or has properties like a metal, such as a shiny appearance or a resonant sound.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Material):
  • Copper is a highly conductive metal.
  • The bridge is constructed from steel and other metals.
• Noun (Road material):
  • The road crew spread fresh metal on the country lane.
• Verb:
  • They decided to metal the old wooden gate to strengthen it.
  • The council plans to metal the dirt track next year.
• Adjective:
  • The box had a cold, metal surface.
  • She heard a sharp, metallic clang.

Advanced Usage

• "Leave/turn off the metals": (idiomatic, from rail transport) To derail; for a train to come off the rails.
  • The freight train left the metals during the storm.
• Metallic character/property: Used in chemistry to describe the degree to which an element exhibits typical metal-like properties.
  • Sodium exhibits strong metallic character.

Variants and Related Words

• Metallic (adj): Having the properties of, resembling, or containing metal.
  • A metallic taste.
• Metallurgy (n): The science and technology of metals.
  • He studied metallurgy in college.
• Nonmetal (n): A chemical element lacking metallic properties.
  • Oxygen is a nonmetal.

Synonyms

• Alloy (n): A mixture of metals.
• Ore (n): A naturally occurring solid material from which a metal can be extracted.
• Element (n): (In the chemical sense) A substance like iron or gold.

Related Phrases

• Base metal: A common and inexpensive metal (e.g., lead, zinc) as opposed to a precious metal.
  • The statue was made of a base metal and then plated with gold.
• Precious metal: A rare, naturally occurring metallic chemical element of high economic value (e.g., gold, silver).
  • Investing in precious metals.
• Heavy metal: A type of loud, powerful rock music; also, a dense metallic element with high atomic weight.
  • He listens to heavy metal. / Lead is a toxic heavy metal.

Idioms

• Run/rush off the metals: To derail (literally or figuratively).
  • The project ran off the metals after the budget was cut.
• Metal to the pedal: A variant of "pedal to the metal," meaning to proceed at maximum speed or effort.
  • It's the final week, so it's metal to the pedal to finish on time.

Adjective

1. containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
   • a metallic compound
   • metallic luster
   • the strange metallic note of the meadow lark, suggesting the clash of vibrant blades- Ambrose Bierce

Noun

1. a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten
   • brass is an alloy of zinc and copper
2. any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

Verb

1. cover with metal