[met.al] n, often attrib [ME, fr. OF, fr. L metallum mine, metal, fr. Gk metallon] (14c) 1: any of various opaque, fusible, ductile, and typically lustrous substances that are good conductors of electricity and heat, form cations by loss of electrons, and yield basic oxides and hydroxides; esp: one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
2. a: mettle 1a b: the material or substance out of which a person or thing is made
3: glass in its molten state
4. a: printing type metal b: matter set in metal type
5: road metal
6: heavy metal
[2]metal vt -aled or -alled ; -al.ing or -al.ling (1610): to cover or furnish with metal