Definition of: metal

(met′l) noun
1. An element that forms a base by combining with a hydroxyl group or groups. It is usually hard, heavy, lustrous, malleable, ductile, tenacious, and a good conductor of heat and electricity.
2. A composition of some metallic element; also, an alloy: generally with a qualifying word.
3. Cast iron while melted.
4. Broken stone for road surfaces or for railway ballast: also called road metal.
5. Her. Gold (or) or silver (argent) tincture.
6. Molten glass.
7. The weight of the projectiles that a warship's guns can throw at once.
8. Printing Type metal; also, composed type.
9. The constituent material of anything; essential quality.
—noble metal A metal that does not readily oxidize in the open air, as gold, silver, and platinum.
—white metal Any one of the various white alloys, such as pewter, used for making ornaments, small castings, etc; specifically, a soft, smooth, malleable, copper–zinc alloy of exceptional anti–frictional properties used to form the bearing surface in the crankshaft and connecting–rod bearings in most internal–combustion engines.
—adjective Consisting of or pertaining to metal.
—v.t. ·aled or ·alled, ·al·ing or ·al·ling To furnish or cover with metal. ♦ Homophone: mettle. [<OF <L metallum mine <Gk. metallon. Doublet of MEDAL.]