I. adjective
also me·tal·ic mə̇ˈtalik, -lēk
Etymology: French or Latin; French métallique, from Latin metallicus, from Greek metallikos metallic, of mines, from metallon mine, metal + -ikos -ic — more at metal
1.
a. : of, relating to, or being a metal
a metallic element
metals and alloys form a distinct subdivision of the solid state of matter known as the metallic state — Marian Balicki
b. : made of or containing a metal
metallic salts
metallic ceiling
c. : having properties of a metal
a metallic substance
especially : exhibiting the characteristic properties of a metal in the free elemental state
metallic lead
metallic selenium
2. : yielding metal : metalliferous
3. : resembling metal:
a. of a color : having reflective and iridescent properties similar to those of a freshly cut surface of a metal
metallic gray finish
the birds were … a brilliant metallic green and black — John Seago
b. of a taste sensation : resembling that produced by various metals especially in mildly acrid unpleasant quality
the tea had a metallic taste
c. of a sound : sharp , harsh , grating
metallic voice
metallic laughter
the monotonous, metallic note of the bellbird — Llewelyn Powys
d. of a literary style : stark
minor poets … better employed in being brittle and bright and metallic than in being soft and opulently luscious — Elinor Wylie
e. of a person : cold, sharp, and hard : mechanical
hard-boiled businessmen, metallic women — Jacques Maritain
• me·tal·li·cal·ly -lə̇k(ə)lē, -lēk-, -li adverb
II. mə̇ˈtalik noun
( -s )
Etymology: metallic , adjective
: a fiber or yarn made of or coated with metal ; also : a fabric made of this