noun
Common
metals
Metals (noun) means the steel rails and track of a railway system, considered as a network. Example: “Trains slowed as the metals were being repaired after the flood.”
noun
1
The steel rails and track of a railway system, considered as a network.
"Trains slowed as the metals were being repaired after the flood."
"Weeds had grown over the metals of the abandoned station."
"The old branch line’s metals were torn up decades ago."
How to use metals
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA somewhat old-fashioned railway term for the rail tracks themselves.
When to use it
This railway sense is mostly found in British usage and older or technical writing; day-to-day, "metals" is usually just the plural of the metal you’d find in a hardware store.
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Trains slowed as the _____ were being repaired after the flood.
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Frequently asked questions
What does “metals” mean?
The word “metals” means the steel rails and track of a railway system, considered as a network. In plain terms, a somewhat old-fashioned railway term for the rail tracks themselves.
How do you use “metals” in a sentence?
Here is “metals” used in a sentence: “The old branch line’s metals were torn up decades ago.”
What part of speech is “metals”?
“Metals” is a noun.
Is “metals” a common word?
“Metals” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "metals" and "rails" in railway language?
"Rails" are the individual steel bars that a train's wheels run on, while "the metals" is a collective term for the rails and track considered as a whole route or network. The two overlap, but "metals" emphasises the line as a connected system.
In what context is "metals" used to mean railway track?
This sense of "metals" is used chiefly in railway and engineering settings, and it is more common in British usage. In everyday language, "metals" is simply the plural of "metal," meaning materials such as iron, gold, or copper.
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