metal
MEH-tuhl
Metal (noun) 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. Example: “Copper is a metal that conducts electricity very well.”
noun
1
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.
"Copper is a metal that conducts electricity very well."
"The bridge was built from steel, a strong and durable metal."
"She wore a ring made of a lightweight metal alloy."
2
A genre of loud rock music featuring heavy drums and distorted guitars.
"The band plays loud metal, with fast drums and heavy guitars."
"My brother loves metal and goes to a festival every year."
"He’s been into metal since he was a teenager, from thrash to death metal."
adj
1
Relating to or characteristic of the metal music genre.
"She wears a metal band T-shirt almost every day."
"They formed a metal group at school and practised in a garage."
"They played a metal cover of the classic pop song."
How to use metal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hard, often shiny material like iron or gold, or (informally) the loud guitar-driven music genre.
Common pairings
scrap metal
heavy metal
metal band
sheet metal
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Word forms
- Plural
- metals
- Third person singular
- metals
- Past tense
- metaled, metalled
- Comparative
- more metal
- Superlative
- most metal
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Copper is a _____ that conducts electricity very well.
Etymology
From Old French metal, from Latin metallum ("metal, mine"), from Ancient Greek metallon ("mine, quarry").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for metal
See all rhymes for 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.
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