metal

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from.

   “Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated.”

   “Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere — an invisible bubble of magnetism generated by the powerful churning of molten metals at Earth’s core.”

2. (countable, uncountable)Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from.

   “But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…].”

3. (countable, uncountable)Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from.

   “Most of the matter in stars is hydrogen and helium, and the metals (including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and so on) were cooked up inside stars.”

   “2008, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Geochemical Society, Oxygen in the solar system, Mineralogical Society of Amer →ISBN Thus, for the remaining elements, including oxygen, the solid phase appears to be important. In fact, at a metallicity of Z=0.02, and with a gas-to-dust ratio of 100, about half of the metals — including oxygen — are contained in the solid phase.”

   “Metals include oxygen and carbon which means that water and organic molecules would have been abundant in the early universe, perhaps paving the way for the emergence of life within a couple of billion years of the Big Bang.”

4. (countable, uncountable)Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from.

   “One of the most important tasks was the metalling of the roads, and the dumping of metal beside them in parts where it was impossible to lay it, in order that work might commence with the assault. The surface of the roads was good, but only because the Division had been holding a front so wide, which made the traffic upon them relatively light.”

5. (countable, uncountable)Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from.
6. (countable, obsolete, uncountable)Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from.

   “slaves […] and persons condemned to metals”

7. (countable, uncountable)A light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent (white or silver) and or (gold).
8. (countable, uncountable)Molten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.
9. (countable, uncountable)A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drumbeats and distorted guitars.

   “While the motive is still under investigation, authorities said that Matthews’ interest in black metal music may have influenced his behavior.”

10. (archaic, countable, figuratively, uncountable)The substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper.

    “Leonato. Well, neece, I hope to ſee you one day fitted with a husband. / Beatrice. Not till God make men of ſome other mettall then earth, would it not grieue a woman to be over-maſtred with a peece of valiant duſt?”

    “Th' Ambitious Youth, too Covetous of Fame, / Too full of Angells Metal in his Frame, / Unvvarily vvas led from Vertues vvays, / Made Drunk vvith Honour, and Debauch'd vvith Praiſe.”

11. (countable, uncountable)The effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.
12. (UK, countable, in-plural, uncountable)The rails of a railway.
13. (countable, informal, uncountable)The actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.

    “We have American Airlines tickets, but it's on British Airways metal.”

adj

1. Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.
2. Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.

   “The beast will destroy everything in his path With this song on the upcoming brawl It sure is a long one and tough to pronounce but It's the most metal title of all”

   “Top tip: Bowling gloves are for sissies, although they look metal as fuck.”

verb

1. To make a road using crushed rock, stones etc.