n.
- a solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity, e.g. iron, copper, and silver.
▸
(metals)
the steel tracks of a railway.
▸Heraldry gold and silver.
-
(also road metal)
broken stone used in road-making.
- molten glass before it is blown or cast.
- heavy metal or similar rock music.
v.
(metals, metalling, metalled; US metals, metaling, metaled)
[
usu. as adj. metalled]
- make from or coat with metal.
- Brit. make or mend (a road) with road metal.
Derivative
Etymology
ME: from OFr. metal or L. metallum, from Gk metallon ‘mine, quarry, or metal’.