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Metal
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον métallon, “mine, quarry, metal”) is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typically malleable (they can be hammered into thin sheets) or ductile (can be drawn into wires). A metal may be a chemical element such as iron, or an alloy such as stainless steel.
In physics, a metal is generally regarded as any substance capable of conducting electricity at a temperature of absolute zero. Many elements and compounds that are not normally classified as metals become metallic under high pressures. For example, the nonmetal iodine gradually becomes a metal at a pressure of between 40 and 170 thousand times atmospheric pressure. Equally, some materials regarded as metals can become nonmetals. Sodium, for example, becomes a nonmetal at pressure of just under two million times atmospheric pressure.
In chemistry, two elements that would otherwise qualify (in physics) as brittle metals—arsenic and antimony—are commonly instead recognised as metalloids, on account of their predominately non-metallic chemistry. Around 95 of the 118 elements in the periodic table are metals (or are likely to be such). The number is inexact as the boundaries between metals, nonmetals, and metalloids fluctuate slightly due to a lack of universally accepted definitions of the categories involved.
In astrophysics the term “metal” is cast more widely to refer to all chemical elements in a star that are heavier than the lightest two, hydrogen and helium, and not just traditional metals. A star fuses lighter atoms, mostly hydrogen and helium, into heavier atoms over its lifetime. Used in that sense, the metallicity of an astronomical object is the proportion of its matter made up of the heavier chemical elements.Metals comprise 25% of the Earth’s crust and are present in many aspects of modern life. The strength and resilience of some metals has led to their frequent use in, for example, high-rise building and bridge construction, as well as most vehicles, many home appliances, tools, pipes, and railroad tracks. Precious metals were historically used as coinage, but in the modern era, coinage metals have extended to at least 23 of the chemical elements.The history of metals is thought to begin with the use of copper about 11,000 years ago. Gold, silver, iron (as meteoric iron), lead, and brass were likewise in use before the first known appearance of bronze in the 5th millennium BCE. Subsequent developments include the production of early forms of steel; the discovery of sodium—the first light metal—in 1809; the rise of modern alloy steels; and, since the end of World War II, the development of more sophisticated alloys.
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Element (noun)
One of the simplest or essential parts or principles of which anything consists, or upon which the constitution or fundamental powers of anything are based.
“Letters are the elements of written language.”
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Element (noun)
Any one of the simplest chemical substances that cannot be decomposed in a chemical reaction or by any chemical means and made up of atoms all having the same number of protons.
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Element (noun)
One of the four basic building blocks of matter in theories of ancient philosophers and alchemists: water, earth, fire, and air.
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Element (noun)
A required aspect or component of a cause of action. A deed is regarded as a violation of law only if each element can be proved.
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Element (noun)
One of the objects in a set.
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Element (noun)
A small part of the whole.
“an element of doubt;”
“an element of the picture”
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Element (noun)
Atmospheric forces such as strong winds and rains.
“exposed to the elements”
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Element (noun)
A place or state of being that an individual or object is best suited to.
“to be in one’s element”
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Element (noun)
The bread and wine taken at Holy Communion.
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Element (noun)
A group of people within a larger group having a particular common characteristic.
“You sometimes find the hooligan element at football matches.”
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Element (noun)
A component in electrical equipment, often in the form of a coil, having a high resistance, thereby generating heat when a current is passed through it.
“The element in this electric kettle can heat the water in under a minute.”
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Element (noun)
One of the conceptual objects in a markup language, usually represented in text by tags.
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Element (verb)
To compound of elements.
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Element (verb)
To constitute and be the elements of.
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Metal (noun)
Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where their ores come from.
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Metal (noun)
Any of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny, somewhat malleable and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.
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Metal (noun)
Any material with similar physical properties, such as an alloy.
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Metal (noun)
An element which was not directly created after the Big Bang but instead formed through nuclear reactions; any element other than hydrogen and helium.
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Metal (noun)
Crushed rock, stones etc. used to make a road.
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Metal (noun)
The ore from which a metal is derived.
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Metal (noun)
A light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent and or.
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Metal (noun)
Molten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.
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Metal (noun)
A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.
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Metal (noun)
The substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper; mettle.
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Metal (noun)
The effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.
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Metal (noun)
The rails of a railway.
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Metal (noun)
The actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.
“We have American Airlines tickets, but it’s on British Airways metal.”
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Metal (adjective)
Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars. 1970s and after
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Metal (adjective)
Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.
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Metal (verb)
To make a road using crushed rock, stones etc.
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Metal (noun)
a solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g. iron, gold, silver, and aluminium, and alloys such as steel)
“being a metal, aluminium readily conducts heat”
“an adjustable pole made of metal”
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Metal (noun)
the steel tracks of a railway
“the locomotive is presently being made ready for operation over Network SouthEast metals”
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Metal (noun)
gold and silver (as tinctures in blazoning).
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Metal (noun)
broken stone for use in making roads
“the work also involves dealing with rock aggregates for potential use as suitable road metal”
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Metal (noun)
molten glass before it is blown or cast.
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Metal (noun)
heavy metal or similar rock music
“crunching power-trio metal”
“industrial music is also a blend of metal and techno”
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Metal (verb)
made from or coated with metal
“a range of metalled key rings”
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Metal (verb)
make or mend (a road) with road metal
“the road was metalled and tolls charged for the upkeep”
“follow the metalled road for about 200 yards”