metal
3 synonyms and 1 antonyms for metal, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A class of chemical elements (and their alloys) that are typically shiny, hard, and good conductors of heat and electricity, such as iron, gold, or aluminum.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use metal
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French metal, from Latin metallum ("metal, mine"), from Ancient Greek metallon ("mine, quarry").
Full origin of metal →Frequently asked questions
What does “metal” mean?
The word “metal” means a class of chemical elements (and their alloys) that are typically shiny, hard, and good conductors of heat and electricity, such as iron, gold, or aluminum. In plain terms, a hard, often shiny material like iron or gold, or (informally) the loud guitar-driven music genre.
How do you pronounce “metal”?
“Metal” is pronounced MEH-tuhl (/ˈmɛ.təl/ in IPA).
How do you use “metal” in a sentence?
Here is “metal” used in a sentence: “The bridge was built from steel, a strong and durable metal.”
What is the opposite of “metal”?
The opposite of “metal” — its antonyms — is nonmetal.
What part of speech is “metal”?
Depending on how it is used, “metal” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “metal” come from?
The word “metal” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French metal, from Latin metallum ("metal, mine"), from Ancient Greek metallon ("mine, quarry").
Is “metal” a common word?
“Metal” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “metal” have?
“Metal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a class of chemical elements (and their alloys) that are typically shiny, hard, and good conductors of heat and electricity, such as iron, gold, or aluminum.
What is the difference between a metal and a nonmetal?
Metals are typically shiny, hard, and good conductors of heat and electricity, and they can usually be bent or drawn into shapes. Nonmetals, like sulphur or oxygen, are generally dull, poor conductors, and brittle when solid. The two groups sit on opposite sides of the periodic table and behave very differently in chemistry.
What is the difference between a metal and an alloy?
A metal is a single chemical element such as iron, copper, or gold. An alloy is a mixture of a metal with one or more other elements, made to improve its properties — steel, for example, is iron mixed with carbon. All alloys are based on metals, but not every metal is an alloy.
What are the main types of metals?
Metals are often grouped as ferrous (containing iron, like steel) and non-ferrous (such as aluminium, copper, and gold). Chemists also distinguish alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, and precious metals. These groupings reflect differences in reactivity, weight, value, and use, but all share the core metallic properties.
Are all metals magnetic?
No. Only a few metals — mainly iron, nickel, and cobalt, plus steels made from them — are strongly magnetic. Most metals, including gold, copper, aluminium, and silver, are not attracted to magnets at all. So magnetism is a property of certain metals rather than a feature of metals in general.