I. ˈme-t ə l noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin metallum mine, metal, from Greek metallon
Date: 14th century
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 ; especially : one that is a chemical element as distinguished from an alloy
2.
a. : mettle 1a
b. : the 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
II. transitive verb
( -aled or -alled ; -al·ing or -al·ling )
Date: 1617
: to cover or furnish with metal