Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Containing or made of metal: Having metal as a component or being constructed from metal.
   • Resembling or characteristic of a metal: Having properties typical of metals, such as a shiny appearance, good electrical/thermal conductivity, or a specific sound quality.
   • Having a sharp, ringing, or clashing sound: Describing a sound that is sharp, clear, and often harsh, reminiscent of the sound produced when metal objects strike each other.

2. Noun:

   • A yarn made partly or entirely of metal: A thread or strand used in textiles that incorporates metal fibers.
   • A fabric made from such yarn: A material woven or knitted from yarn that contains metal.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The car had a bright metallic paint that shimmered in the sun. (Describing a paint finish that resembles metal.)
  • Copper has a distinct metallic taste. (Describing a characteristic sensory property of a metal.)
  • The bell produced a clear, metallic ring. (Describing a sound quality.)
• Noun:
  • The designer used a gold metallic for the embroidery on the gown. (Referring to a type of yarn.)
  • The costume was made from a silver metallic that caught the stage lights. (Referring to a type of fabric.)

Advanced Usage

• "Metallic" in Color Names: Often used in product names (especially for paints, cars, cosmetics) to describe colors that have a shiny, reflective quality, even if they don't contain actual metal.
  • She bought a lipstick in a shade called "metallic rose."
• Figurative Use: Can describe something non-physical that has qualities reminiscent of metal, such as a cold, hard, or impersonal character.
  • His voice had a metallic edge of authority.

Variants and Related Words

• Metallically (adverb): In a metallic manner.
  • The light reflected metallically off the surface.
• Metallicity (noun): (Astronomy) The proportion of elements heavier than helium in a celestial object.
• Nonmetallic (adjective): Not metallic; lacking metallic properties.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Shiny, lustrous, silvery, brassy, tinny (for sound).
• Noun: Lame, lamé (a fabric with metallic threads).

Related Phrases

• Metallic bond: (Chemistry) A type of chemical bond characteristic of metals.
• Metallic element: (Chemistry) An element that exhibits metallic properties.
• Metallic oxide: (Chemistry) A compound of a metal with oxygen.

Idioms

• No direct common idioms center solely on the word "metallic." However, descriptive phrases like "metallic taste" or "metallic sound" are fixed collocations.

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 yarn made partly or entirely of metal
2. a fabric made of a yarn that is partly or entirely of metal