Etymology tree
Ancient Greek μέτᾰλλον (métăllon)der.
Latin metallum
Old French metalbor.
Middle English metal
English metal
From Middle English metal, a borrowing from Old French metal, from Latin metallum (“metal, mine, quarry, mineral”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon, “mine, quarry, metal”).
Meanings
Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.
Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.
Top tip: Bowling gloves are for sissies, although they look metal as fuck. 2012 August, “Tested Bowling Balls”, in Front, number 171, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 40:
The beast will destroy everything in his path
With this song on the upcoming brawl
It sure is a long one and tough to pronounce but
It's the most metal title of all 2008, Lich King, “Attack of the Wrath of the War of the Death of the Strike of the Sword of the Blood of the Beast”, in Toxic Zombie Onslaught:
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek μέτᾰλλον (métăllon)der.
Latin metallum
Old French metalbor.
Middle English metal
English metal
From Middle English metal, a borrowing from Old French metal, from Latin metallum (“metal, mine, quarry, mineral”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon, “mine, quarry, metal”).
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from. ▸ Any of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny, somewhat malleable and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.
Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated. 2014 April 21, “Subtle effects”, in The Economist, volume 411, number 8884, archived from the original on 26 Mar 2019:
Earth is surrounded by a magnetosphere — an invisible bubble of magnetism generated by the powerful churning of molten metals at Earth’s core. 2023 December 27, Mindy Weisberger, “Ancient bricks baked when Nebuchadnezzar II was king absorbed a power surge in Earth’s magnetic field”, in CNN:
(countable, uncountable) Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from. ▸ Any material with similar physical properties as those chemical elements, especially as a combination of several of them, such as an alloy.
But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…]. 1879, R[ichard] J[efferies], chapter 1, in The Amateur Poacher, London: Smith, Elder, & Co., […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from. ▸ An element which was not directly created after the Big Bang but instead formed through nuclear reactions; any element other than hydrogen and helium.
Metals include oxygen and carbon which means that water and organic molecules would have been abundant in the early universe, perhaps paving the way for the emergence of life within a couple of billion years of the Big Bang. 2015, Alan Longstaff, Astrobiology: An Introduction, CRC Press, →ISBN, page 350:
2008, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Geochemical Society, Oxygen in the solar system, Mineralogical Society of Amer →ISBN
Thus, for the remaining elements, including oxygen, the solid phase appears to be important. In fact, at a metallicity of Z=0.02, and with a gas-to-dust ratio of 100, about half of the metals — including oxygen — are contained in the solid phase.
Most of the matter in stars is hydrogen and helium, and the metals (including carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and so on) were cooked up inside stars. 2003, Michael A. Seeds, Astronomy: The Solar System and Beyond, Thomson Brooks/Cole, →ISBN:
(countable, uncountable) Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from. ▸ Crushed rock, stones etc. used to make a road.
One of the most important tasks was the metalling of the roads, and the dumping of metal beside them in parts where it was impossible to lay it, in order that work might commence with the assault. The surface of the roads was good, but only because the Division had been holding a front so wide, which made the traffic upon them relatively light. 1922, Falls Cyril, The History of the 36th (Ulster) Division, M'Caw, Stevenson and Orr, Ltd:
(countable, uncountable) Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from. ▸ The ore from which a metal is derived.
(countable, obsolete, uncountable) Chemical elements or alloys, their ores, and the mines where their ores come from. ▸ A mine from which ores are taken.
slaves […] and persons condemned to metals 1660, Jeremy Taylor, Ductor Dubitantium, or the Rule of Conscience in All Her General Measures; […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] James Flesher, for Richard Royston […], →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) A light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent (white or silver) and or (gold).
(countable, uncountable) Molten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.
(countable, uncountable) A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, etc.) characterized by strong drumbeats and distorted guitars.
While the motive is still under investigation, authorities said that Matthews’ interest in black metal music may have influenced his behavior. 2019 April 11, Harmeet Kaur, “Authorities say black metal may have influenced the Louisiana church fires suspect. Here’s what to know.”, in CNN:
(archaic, countable, figuratively, uncountable) The substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper.
Th' Ambitious Youth, too Covetous of Fame, / Too full of Angells Metal in his Frame, / Unvvarily vvas led from Vertues vvays, / Made Drunk vvith Honour, and Debauch'd vvith Praiſe. 1681, [John Dryden], Absalom and Achitophel. A Poem, London: […] J[acob] T[onson] and are to be sold by W. Davis […], →OCLC, page 10:
Leonato. Well, neece, I hope to ſee you one day fitted with a husband. / Beatrice. Not till God make men of ſome other mettall then earth, would it not grieue a woman to be over-maſtred with a peece of valiant duſt? 1598–1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “Much Adoe about Nothing”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i], page 104:
(countable, uncountable) The effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.
(UK, countable, in-plural, uncountable) The rails of a railway.
(countable, informal, uncountable) The actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.
We have American Airlines tickets, but it's on British Airways metal.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
metals
Number=Plur
lexicographic
Antonyms
nonmetal (antonym(s) of “any of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms”)
is málmur (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · yi מעטאַל (certain category of rock music) · eu metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ug مېتال (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sl kovina (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fa فِلِز (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · az metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fa فِلِز (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sip ལྕགས་རིགས (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sa लोह (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · bn ধাতু (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ia metallo (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sv metal (certain category of rock music) · ms logam (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · yue 金屬 /金属 (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · new मेटल (certain category of rock music) · th โลหะ (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sw metali (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ang andweorc (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · tr metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ru мета́лл (certain category of rock music) · id logam (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · cs kov (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ast metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · zh 金屬 /金属 (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · uz metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · hi धातु (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mk метал (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · uz metal (certain category of rock music) · za gimsug (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ar مِيتَال (certain category of rock music) · be мета́л (certain category of rock music) · ru ме́тал (certain category of rock music) · os згъӕр (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · nl metaal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · hu fém (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · eo metalroko (certain category of rock music) · bg ме́тъл (certain category of rock music) · de Metal (certain category of rock music) · kn ಮೆಟಲ್ (certain category of rock music) · ta மாழை (certain category of rock music) · kk металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ta உலோகம் (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · kxd basi (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mga mital (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sh mètāl (certain category of rock music) · bn মেটাল (certain category of rock music) · sh мѐта̄л (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sh ко̏вина (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · zh 金屬 /金属 (certain category of rock music) · fr metal (certain category of rock music) · lo ໂລຫະ (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · gu મેટલ (certain category of rock music) · tyv демир (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · hu metal (certain category of rock music) · et metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · it metallo (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · pa ਮੈਟਲ (certain category of rock music) · pl metal (certain category of rock music) · sa अयस् (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · eo metalo (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · gu ધાતુ (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · pl metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ee ga (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ilo metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · grc μέταλλον (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · bo ལྕགས་རིགས (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ja 金 (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · cy metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sl metal (certain category of rock music) · my သတ္တု (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · lo ໂລຫະ (certain category of rock music) · fo málmur (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · cy metel (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · rue ков (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mi mētara (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mn металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · tl kansa (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ps فلز (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · lt metalas (certain category of rock music) · ifk gum'ok (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ka ლითონი (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · uk ме́тал (certain category of rock music) · de Metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mi maitai (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ar مَعْدِن (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · es metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · lv metāls (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · th เมทัล (certain category of rock music) · tl bakal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · vi kim loại (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · be мэта́л (certain category of rock music) · pt metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · la metallum (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · oc metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ja メタル (certain category of rock music) · pt metal (certain category of rock music) · ko 금속 (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · hy մետալ (certain category of rock music) · qu chuqi (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ml ലോഹം (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mk метал (certain category of rock music) · ko 메탈 (certain category of rock music) · ckt пыԓвынтын (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ce металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · os металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · alt темир (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ne धातु (certain category of rock music) · az metal (certain category of rock music) · nb metal (certain category of rock music) · ja 金属 (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · alt металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sv metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · gug kuarepoti (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · tr metal (certain category of rock music) · be мэта́л (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mr मेटल (certain category of rock music) · pi loha (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · nb metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · nl metal (certain category of rock music) · hu érc (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · nn metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sh kȍvina (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fi metallimusiikki (certain category of rock music) · ksc aka (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · br metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · vep metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · qu q'illay (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · tl metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · gl metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mg metaly (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · av металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ru круше́ц (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ro metal (certain category of rock music) · ga miotal (certain category of rock music) · ne धातु (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ar فِلِزّ (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sa धातु (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · yue 金屬 /金属 (certain category of rock music) · enm metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ar معدن (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mr धातू (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mww hlau (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · my မက်တယ်လ် (certain category of rock music) · el μέταλ (certain category of rock music) · it metal (certain category of rock music) · lv metāls (certain category of rock music) · ebk lanchok (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sq metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sk kov (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · cs metal (certain category of rock music) · cy metel (certain category of rock music) · ka მეტალი (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · xal төмрлг (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · bg мета́л (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ab аметалл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ky металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ca metall (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · et metal (certain category of rock music) · bpy মেটাল (certain category of rock music) · tg фулуз (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · km លោហៈ (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ca metal (certain category of rock music) · tg металл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · be мэта́ль (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · tk metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · lt metãlas (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fi metalli (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · la metallum (certain category of rock music) · rue мета́л (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · af metaal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · da metal (certain category of rock music) · ur دھات (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · zh 金 (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ebk komak (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · uk мета́л (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ps زر (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fy metaal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · he מַתֶּכֶת (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ro metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ota معدن (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fo málmbland (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sk metal (certain category of rock music) · ifk landuk (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · be мэ́тал (certain category of rock music) · io metalo (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · te లోహము (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ml മെറ്റൽ (certain category of rock music) · da metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · tpn itá (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ga miotal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · be мета́л (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fo skervur (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · el μέταλλο (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · sh мѐта̄л (certain category of rock music) · gd meatailt (certain category of rock music) · kmr kanza (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · ckb مێتاڵ (certain category of rock music) · xmf მეტალი (certain category of rock music) · fr métal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · nv béésh (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · mn ᠮᠧᠲ᠋ᠠᠯ (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · pdt Mettol (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · kmr metal (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · as ধাতু (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · hi धात (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · uk мета́л (certain category of rock music) · fi metal (certain category of rock music) · yi מעטאַל (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · he מֶטַאל (certain category of rock music) · ka მეტალი (certain category of rock music) · is málmur (certain category of rock music) · sh mètāl (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · uz temir (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fa مِتال (certain category of rock music) · ru мета́лл (atomic element or material made of such atoms) · fi metalli (certain category of rock music) · es metal (certain category of rock music) · hy մետաղ (atomic element or material made of such atoms)
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek μέτᾰλλον (métăllon)der.
Latin metallum
Old French metalbor.
Middle English metal
English metal
From Middle English metal, a borrowing from Old French metal, from Latin metallum (“metal, mine, quarry, mineral”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek μέταλλον (métallon, “mine, quarry, metal”).