any of a class of elementary substances, as gold, silver, or copper, all of which are crystalline when solid and many of which are characterized by opacity, ductility, conductivity, and a unique luster when freshly fractured.
2.
Chemistry.
a.
such a substance in its pure state, as distinguished from alloys.
b.
an element yielding positively charged ions in aqueous solutions of its salts.
3.
an alloy or mixture composed wholly or partly of such substances, as brass.
Abbr. M Any of a category of electropositive elements that usually have a shiny surface, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wires. Typical metals form salts with nonmetals, basic oxides with oxygen, and alloys with one another.
An alloy of two or more metallic elements.
An object made of metal.
Basic character; mettle.
Broken stones used for road surfaces or railroad beds.
Molten glass, especially when used in glassmaking.
Molten cast iron.
Printing Type made of metal.
Music Heavy metal.
tr.v.
met·aled also met·alled, met·al·ing also met·al·ling, met·als also met·als
To cover or surface (a roadbed, for example) with broken stones.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin metallum, from Greek metallon, mine, ore, metal.]
Word History: In modern English, metal and mettle are pronounced the same, and they are in fact all related. Middle English borrowed metal from Old French in the 14th century; Old French metal, metail, came from Latin metallum, from Greek metallon, "mine, quarry, ore, metal." By the 16th century, metal had also come to mean "the stuff one is made of, one's character," but there was no difference in spelling between the literal and figurative senses until about 1700, when the spelling mettle, originally just a variant of metal, was fixed for the sense "fortitude." The history of English has numerous examples of pairs of words, like metal and mettle, that are (historically speaking) spelling variants of the same word; two other such pairs are trump/triumph and through/thorough.
1297, from O.Fr. metal, from L. metallum "metal, mine, quarry, mineral, what is got by mining," from Gk. metallon "metal, ore," originally "mine, quarry, pit," probably from metalleuein "to mine, to quarry," of unknown origin, but related somehow to metallan "to seek after." Metallic is first recorded 1567, from Gk. metallikos.
containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal; "a metallic compound"; "metallic luster"; "the strange metallic note of the meadow lark, suggesting the clash of vibrant blades"- Ambrose Bierce [syn: metallic] [ant: nonmetal]
noun
1.
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc. [syn: metallic element]
2.
a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an alloy of zinc and copper" [syn: alloy]
(of) any of a group of substances, usually shiny, that can conduct heat and electricity and can be hammered into shape, or drawn out in sheets, bars etc Example: Gold, silver and iron are all metals.
Arabic:
فِلِز، فِلِزّي، مَعْدَني
Chinese (Simplified):
金属
Chinese (Traditional):
金屬(的)
Czech:
kov; kovový
Danish:
metal
Dutch:
metaal
Estonian:
metall
Finnish:
metalli
French:
(de, *en) métal
German:
das Metall
Greek:
μέταλλο
Hungarian:
fém
Icelandic:
málmur
Indonesian:
logam
Italian:
metallo; di, *in metallo*
Japanese:
金属
Korean:
금속
Latvian:
metāls
Lithuanian:
metalas
Norwegian:
metall
Polish:
stop
Portuguese (Brazil):
metal
Portuguese (Portugal):
metal
Romanian:
(de, *din) metal
Russian:
металл
Slovak:
kov; kovový
Slovenian:
kovina
Spanish:
metal
Swedish:
metall
Turkish:
metal, maden
metal2[ˈmetl]noun, adjective
(of) a combination of more than one of such substances Example: Brass is a metal made from copper and zinc.
Any of a large group of chemical elements, including iron, gold, copper, lead, and magnesium, that readily become cations and form ionic bonds, having relatively free valence electrons (electrons in the outer shells). Metals are generally good conductors of electricity because of the freedom of their valence electrons. Metals generally conduct heat well, and in solid form are relatively malleable and ductile compared to other solids. They are usually shiny and opaque. All metals except mercury are solid at room temperature.
An alloy, such as steel or bronze, made of two or more metals.
In astronomy, any atom except hydrogen and helium.
Small stones or gravel, mixed with tar to form tarmac for the surfacing of roads.
Our Living Language: Most metallic elements are lustrous or colorful solids that are good conductors of heat and electricity, and readily form ionic bonds with other elements. Many of their properties are due to the fact that their outermost electrons, called valence electrons, are not tightly bound to the nucleus. For instance, most metals form ionic bonds easily because they readily give up valence electrons to other atoms, thereby becoming positive ions (cations). The electrical conductivity of metals also stems from the relative freedom of valence electrons. In a substance composed of metals, the atoms are in a virtual "sea" of valence electrons that readily jump from atom to atom in the presence of an electric potential, creating electric current. With the exception of hydrogen, which behaves like a metal only at very high pressures, the elements that appear in the left-hand column of the Periodic Table are called alkali metals. Alkali metals, such as sodium and potassium, have only one electron in their outermost shell, and are chemically very reactive. (Hydrogen is exceptional in that, although it is highly reactive, its other metallic properties are manifest only at very high pressures.) Metals farther toward the right side of the Periodic Table, such as tin and lead, have more electrons in their outermost shell, and are not as reactive. The somewhat reactive elements that fall between the two extremes are the transition elements, such as iron, copper, tungsten, and silver. In most atoms, inner electron shells must be maximally occupied by electrons before an outer shell will accept electrons, but many transition elements have electron gaps in the shell just inside the valence shell. This configuration leads to a wide variety of available energy levels for electrons to move about in, so in the presence of electromagnetic radiation such as light, a variety of frequencies are readily emitted or absorbed. Thus transition metals tend to be very colorful, and each contributes different colors to different compounds.
METAL 1. Mega-Extensive Telecommunications Applications Language. BBS language for PRODOS 8 on Apple II. 2. The syntax-definition formalism of the Mentor system. Metal specifications are compiled to specifications for a scanner/parser generator such as Lex/Yacc. "Metal: A Formalism to Specify Formalisms", G. Kahn et al, Sci Comp Prog 3:151-188 (1983).
Base\ (b[=a]s), a. [OE. bass, F. bas, low, fr. LL. bassus thick, fat, short, humble; cf. L. Bassus, a proper name, and W. bas shallow. Cf. Bass a part in music.]1. Of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth; as, base shrubs. [Archaic] --Shak. 2. Low in place or position. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. Of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. [Archaic] "A pleasant and base swain." --Bacon. 4. Illegitimate by birth; bastard. [Archaic] Why bastard? wherefore base? --Shak. 5. Of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and silver, the precious metals. 6. Alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base bullion. 7. Morally low. Hence: Low-minded; unworthy; without dignity of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base fellow; base motives; base occupations. "A cruel act of a base and a cowardish mind." --Robynson (More's Utopia). "Base ingratitude." --Milton. 8. Not classical or correct. "Base Latin." --Fuller. 9. Deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin. [In this sense, commonly written bass.] 10. (Law) Not held by honorable service; as, a base estate, one held by services not honorable; held by villenage. Such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a base tenant. Base fee, formerly, an estate held at the will of the lord; now, a qualified fee. See note under Fee, n., 4. Base metal. See under Metal. Syn: Dishonorable; worthless; ignoble; low-minded; infamous; sordid; degraded. Usage: Base, Vile, Mean. These words, as expressing moral qualities, are here arranged in the order of their strength, the strongest being placed first. Base marks a high degree of moral turpitude; vile and mean denote, in different degrees, the want of what is valuable or worthy of esteem. What is base excites our abhorrence; what is vile provokes our disgust or indignation; what is mean awakens contempt. Base is opposed to high-minded; vile, to noble; mean, to liberal or generous. Ingratitude is base; sycophancy is vile; undue compliances are mean.
Heav"y\, a. [Compar. Heavier; superl. Heaviest.] [OE. hevi, AS. hefig, fr. hebban to lift, heave; akin to OHG. hebig, hevig, Icel. h["o]figr, h["o]fugr. See Heave.]1. Heaved or lifted with labor; not light; weighty; ponderous; as, a heavy stone; hence, sometimes, large in extent, quantity, or effects; as, a heavy fall of rain or snow; a heavy failure; heavy business transactions, etc.; often implying strength; as, a heavy barrier; also, difficult to move; as, a heavy draught. 2. Not easy to bear; burdensome; oppressive; hard to endure or accomplish; hence, grievous, afflictive; as, heavy yokes, expenses, undertakings, trials, news, etc. The hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod. --1 Sam. v. 6. The king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make. --Shak. Sent hither to impart the heavy news. --Wordsworth. Trust him not in matter of heavy consequence. --Shak. 3. Laden with that which is weighty; encumbered; burdened; bowed down, either with an actual burden, or with care, grief, pain, disappointment. The heavy [sorrowing] nobles all in council were. --Chapman. A light wife doth make a heavy husband. --Shak. 4. Slow; sluggish; inactive; or lifeless, dull, inanimate, stupid; as, a heavy gait, looks, manners, style, and the like; a heavy writer or book. Whilst the heavy plowman snores. --Shak. Of a heavy, dull, degenerate mind. --Dryden. Neither [is] his ear heavy, that it can not hear. --Is. lix. 1. 5. Strong; violent; forcible; as, a heavy sea, storm, cannonade, and the like. 6. Loud; deep; -- said of sound; as, heavy thunder. But, hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more. --Byron. 7. Dark with clouds, or ready to rain; gloomy; -- said of the sky. 8. Impeding motion; cloggy; clayey; -- said of earth; as, a heavy road, soil, and the like. 9. Not raised or made light; as, heavy bread. 10. Not agreeable to, or suitable for, the stomach; not easily digested; -- said of food. 11. Having much body or strength; -- said of wines, or other liquors. 12. With child; pregnant. [R.] Heavy artillery. (Mil.) (a) Guns of great weight or large caliber, esp. siege, garrison, and seacoast guns. (b) Troops which serve heavy guns. Heavy cavalry. See under Cavalry. Heavy fire (Mil.), a continuous or destructive cannonading, or discharge of small arms. Heavy metal (Mil.), large guns carrying balls of a large size; also, large balls for such guns. Heavy metals. (Chem.) See under Metal. Heavy weight, in wrestling, boxing, etc., a term applied to the heaviest of the classes into which contestants are divided. Cf. Feather weight (c), under Feather. Note: Heavy is used in composition to form many words which need no special explanation; as, heavy-built, heavy-browed, heavy-gaited, etc.
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Audio Help [met-l] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -aled, -al·ing or (especially British
