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.

Noun

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