met·al /ˈmɛtḷ/
 金屬,金屬製品,合金,本質,質料(a.)金屬制的(vt.)以金屬覆蓋
 met·al /ˈmɛtḷ/ 名詞
 金屬
 metal
 金屬
 Met·al n.
 1. 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.
 Note: ☞ Popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc, nickel, etc., and also to the mixed metals, or metallic alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell metal, etc.
 2. Ore from which a metal is derived; -- so called by miners.
 3. A mine from which ores are taken. [Obs.]
    Slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals.   --Jer. Taylor.
 4. 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.
 5. Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle.
 Note: ☞ The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword blade.
 6. The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.
 7. The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.
 8. Glass in a state of fusion.
 9. pl. The rails of a railroad. [Eng.]
 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.
 Met·al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Metaled or Metalled; p. pr. & vb. n. Metaling or Metalling.] To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.
 ◄ ►
 metal
      adj : containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a
            metal; "a metallic compound"; "metallic luster"; "the
            strange metallic note of the meadow lark, suggesting
            the clash of vibrant blades"- Ambrose Bierce [syn: metallic,
             metal(a)] [ant: nonmetallic]
      n 1: any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny
           solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be
           formed into sheets etc. [syn: metallic element]
      2: a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or
         metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together
         or dissolving into each other when molten; "brass is an
         alloy of zinc and copper" [syn: alloy]
      v : cover with metal
      [also: metalling, metalled]