ˈmetl n.,
adj., & v. --n. 1 a
any of a
class of
chemical elements
such as
gold,
silver,
iron,
and tin, usu. lustrous
ductile solids and
good conductors of
heat and
electricity and forming
basic oxides. b an
alloy of any of
these. 2
material used
for making glass, in a
molten state. 3
Heraldry gold or silver as
tincture. 4 (in pl.)
the rails of a
railway line. 5 = road-metal (see ROAD(1)). --adj.
made of metal. --v.tr. (metalled, metalling; US metaled, metaling) 1
provide or fit
with metal. 2
Brit.
make or
mend (a road) with road-metal. ømetal
detector an
electronic device giving a signal
when it locates metal. metal
fatigue fatigue (see FATIGUE n. 2) in metal. [ME f. OF metal or L metallum f. Gk metallon mine]