type metal

Thân thiện

A printer arranges pieces of type metal into a composing stick.

Definition

Noun: An alloy, typically composed of tin, lead, and antimony, used in the manufacture of metal type for letterpress printing. Its composition allows it to produce sharp, durable characters and to melt at a relatively low temperature for casting.

Usage

"Type metal" is an uncountable noun referring to the material itself. It is used in industrial, historical, and printing contexts.

Examples

• The old print shop had ingots of type metal ready for casting new letters.
• The durability of the typeset depended on the quality of the type metal alloy.
• Antimony is added to type metal to make the cast type expand and fill the mold crisply.

Advanced Usage

• Historical/Technical Context: The term is most relevant in discussions of traditional printing technology. In modern digital contexts, it is primarily of historical interest.
  • The museum's exhibit on Gutenberg's press included a sample of original type metal.

Variants and Related Words

• Alloy (n): A metal made by combining two or more metallic elements.
• Stereotype metal (n): A specific type of alloy used for making printing plates, often similar to but distinct from type metal.

Synonyms

• Printing alloy
• Type alloy

Different Meanings

This term has a single, specific technical meaning related to printing and metallurgy. It does not have other common definitions.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an alloy of tin and lead and antimony used to make printing type