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]

Metal \Met"al\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. m['e]tal, L. metallum metal, mine, Gr. ? mine; cf. Gr. ? to search after. Cf. Mettle, Medal.]
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. --Raymond.
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. --Shak. Note: The allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword blade. --Skeat.
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. --Knight.
9. pl. The rails of a railroad. [Eng.] Base metal (Chem.), any one of the metals, as iron, lead,

A group of elements in the periodic table is called metals. These elements usually have the following properties:

Most metals are solid, at room temperature, but this does not have to be the case. Mercury is liquid. Alloys are mixtures, where at least one part of the mixure is a metal. Examples for metals are aluminium, copper, iron, tin, gold, lead, silver, titanium, uranium, and zinc. Well-known alloys include bronze and steel.

The study of metals is called metallurgy.

Most metals are hard, shiny, they feel heavy (dense) and they melt only when they are very hot. Lumps of metal will make a bell-like sound when they are hit with something heavy (they are sonorous). Heat and electricity can easily pass through a metal (it is conductive). A lump of metal can be beaten into a thin sheet (it is malleable) or can be pulled into thin wires (it is ductile). Metal is hard to pull apart (it has a high tensile strength) or smash (it has a high compressive strength). If you push on a long, thin piece of metal, it will bend, not break (it is elastic).

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