Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1200-1300
Language: Old French
Origin: Latin metallum 'mine, metal', from Greek metallon

metal

 noun
     
Related topics: Industry
met‧al S2 W2 [uncountable and countable]
TI a hard, usually shiny substance such as iron, gold, or steel [↪ metallic]:
The gate is made of metal.
a small black metal box
They traded in gold and other precious metals (=valuable metals used especially for making jewellery).
The old trucks were sold as scrap metal (=old metal that is melted and used again).
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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