Definition of metal:

• Ore from which a metal is derived; -- so called by miners.
• Chemical element characterized ( 1) as a good heat and electricity conductor, ( 2) as opaque but when polished reflects light very well, ( 3) as malleable, ( 4) as processable into wires, ( 5) as sonorous when struck. Cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc are metals essential to animal, human, and plant health, in trace quantities. Under suitable conditions all metals crystallize. All metals are solid at normal temperature except cesium, gallium, and mercury. Metals tend to form positive ions, being electropositive chemically, and most have strong reactive-affinity with certain non-metallic elements to forms salts, as with chlorine and sulfur.
• To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.
• To cover with metal, such as gold, silver, copper, etc.
• cover with metal
• To cover with metal.
• Mils.
• any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
• 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.
• A mine from which ores are taken.
• 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.
• Ore from which a metal is derived; - so called by miners.
• A heavy, lustrous substance, capable of being drawn into a fine thread and beaten or hammered into thin plates, of being melted by heat, and of carrying electricity; material; substance; hence, spirit; temper.
• Hard, heavy, fusible substance, as iron.
• A solid, shining, opaque body, such as gold, etc.: broken stone used for macadamized roads.
• A simple, fixed, opaque body, fusible by heat.
• Metallic.
• An elementary substance, usually hard, heavy, and malleable, as iron, gold, tin, etc.
• An opaque body or substance, insoluble in water, fusible by heat, a good conductor of heat and electricity, and having a peculiar lustre known as the metallic lustre; glass in a state of fusion; stones broken small for roads; the effective power of guns borne by a vessel of war.
• A well- known body, such as gold, silver, copper, iron, & c.; broken stones used for roads; broken glass for the melting- pot.
• See mettle.

Usage examples for metal

1. Listen to me; I'm of the metal that makes ministers; I do not seek to obtain Celeste until I deserve her.  The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac

2. He lay face down on the metal ground until he felt hands grip his boots, then he asked, " All set?"  Rip Foster in Ride the Gray Planet by Harold Leland Goodwin

3. His armor covered him from head to foot in metal, and sometimes his horse was also covered with metal plates.  Introductory American History by Henry Eldridge Bourne Elbert Jay Benton

4. My pieces of metal will give me the power of assisting the unfortunate everywhere.  The Secret Memoirs of Louis XV./XVI, Complete by Madame du Hausset, an "Unknown English Girl" and the Princess Lamballe