metal

1 of 2

noun

met·​al ˈme-tᵊl How to pronounce metal (audio)
often attributive
Synonyms of metalnext
1
: any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides
especially : one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
2
a
: mettle sense 1a
b
: the substance out of which a person or thing is made
3
: glass in its molten state
4
a
: printing type metal
b
: matter set in metal type
5
: road metal
6
: heavy metal sense 2

metal

2 of 2

verb

metaled or metalled; metaling or metalling

transitive verb

: to cover or furnish with metal

Examples of metal in a Sentence

Noun a mixture of various kinds of metal sculptors who work in metal and clay a mixture of different metals
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Go down another 20,000 miles (about 32,000 kilometers), and the hydrogen becomes more like flowing liquid metal, a material so exotic that only recently, and with great difficulty, have scientists reproduced it in the laboratory. —Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024 Items like rare and precious gems, a golden chalice, gold coins, other precious metals, jeweled necklaces and even a Tiffany Glass vase. —Rob Wieland, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
The researchers adjusted the mixtures’ acidity and temperature to alter the charge of sugar molecules on the yeast organisms’ surfaces; particular metals are drawn to specific charges on the sugars, so this process controlled which metals the yeast attracted and bound. —Riis Williams, Scientific American, 14 May 2024 Masks, for instance, have metal nose clips, polypropylene filters and elastic headbands. —Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 7 Mar. 2022 See all Example Sentences for metal 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English metal, metall, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French metal, borrowed from Latin metallum "mine, quarry, substance obtained by mining, metal, mineral," borrowed from Greek métallon "mine, gallery of a mine, tunnel (in siege works)," from about the 1st century A.D. on also "metal, mineral," of uncertain origin

Note: A basic issue is the possible relation between the Greek noun and the verb metalláō "ask, inquire, question," attested since Homer. Métallon has been taken as a back-formation from this word, though etymologically the verb leads no further than the noun. (The explanation as from met' alla "[to look] for other things" is hardly convincing.) Perhaps more plausibly metalláō, along with métallon, has been taken as a technical term of miners, with a figurative sense taken up by epic poets and the original technical sense lost. R. Beekes (Etymological Dictionary of Greek) suggests a pre-Greek substratal origin, though -all- as a suffix—if that is the issue here—has a very restricted occurrence. The sense "metal," the only meaning carried into modern European languages, may be a back-formation from metalleúō "dig a mine or tunnel, get by mining."

Verb

derivative of metal entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1617, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metal was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing metal

Dictionary Entries Near metal

metakinetic

metal

Metal Age

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Metal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metal. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

Kids Definition

metal

noun
met·​al
ˈmet-ᵊl
1
: any of various substances (as gold, tin, or copper) that have a more or less shiny appearance, are good conductors of electricity and heat, can be melted, and are usually capable of being shaped
especially : one that is a chemical element rather than an alloy
2
: mettle sense 2
metal adjective

Medical Definition

metal

noun
met·​al ˈmet-ᵊl How to pronounce metal (audio)
: any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides
especially : one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little chihuahua dressing like a turkey for thanksgiving
Giving Thanks Quiz Decide which words express gratitude and which gi...