noun
metal
MEH-tuhl
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.
"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.
"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.
"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
Word Forms
more metal comparative, metaled past tense, metalled past tense, metals plural, metals singular, most metal superlative
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The bridge was built from steel, a strong and durable _____.
Etymology
From Old French metal, from Latin metallum ("metal, mine"), from Ancient Greek metallon ("mine, quarry").