Metal

Definition of Metal

Met´al

(Chem.) An elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or metalloids. No sharp line can be drawn between the metals and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.

Ore from which a metal is derived; - so called by miners.

A mine from which ores are taken.

Slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals.

- Jer. Taylor.

The substance of which anything is made; material; hence, constitutional disposition; character; temper.

Not till God make men of some other metal than earth.

- Shak.

Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle.

The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.

The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.

Glass in a state of fusion.

The rails of a railroad.

Base metal
(Chem.) any one of the metals, as iron, lead, etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized, in contrast with the noble metals. In general, a metal of small value, as compared with gold or silver.

Fusible metal
(Metal.) a very fusible alloy, usually consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium.

Heavy metals
(Chem.) the metallic elements not included in the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths, or the earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury, platinum, lead, silver, etc.

Light metals
(Chem.) the metallic elements of the alkali and alkaline earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, etc.; also, sometimes, the metals of the earths, as aluminium.

Muntz metal
an alloy for sheathing and other purposes, consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of zinc. Sometimes a little lead is added. It is named from the inventor.

Prince's metal
(Old Chem.) an alloy resembling brass, consisting of three parts of copper to one of zinc; - also called Prince Rupert's metal.

v. t.

To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.

[imp. & p. p. Metaled (? or ?) or Metalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Metaling or Metalling.]

Related Words

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Metacarpus
Metacenter
Metacetone
Metachloral
Metachronism
Metachrosis
Metacinnabarite
Metacism
Metacrolein
Metacromion
Metadiscoidal
Metagastric
Metage
Metagenesis
Metagenetic
Metagenic
Metagnathous
Metagrammatism
Metagraphic
Metagraphy
-Metal-
Metalammonium
metalanguage
Metalbumin
Metaldehyde
Metalepsis
Metalepsy
Metaleptic
Metaleptical
Metallic
Metallic iron
Metallic paper
Metallic phosphorus
Metallic sulphide
Metallic thermometer
Metallic tinking
Metallical
Metallicly
Metallifacture
Metalliferous
Metalliform

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