n. An elementary substance, or one which in the present state of chemical science is undecompos able, and which possesses opacity, luster of a peculiar kind (commonly called metallic, because very characteristic of the metals), conductivity for heat and electricity, and plasticity, or capability of being drawn, squeezed, or hammered with change of shape but no loss of continuity.n. In printing and type-founding See type-metal.n. The material of glass, pottery, etc., in a state of fusion.n. plural The rails of a railway.n. In heraldry, one of the two tinctures or and argentāthat is, gold and silver.n. Materials for roads; especially, the broken stones used as ballasting on a road-bed or railway.n. The aggregate number, mass, or effective power of the guns carried by a ship of war.n. That of which anything is composed; formative material; hence, constitution; intrinsic quality, as of a person.n. Courage; spirit; mettle. In this sense now always mettle.n. A mine.n. See blue.To put metal on; cover, as roads, with broken stones or metal.An abbreviation of metallurgy.n. In mining:n. Cast-iron.n. Hard rock; whin or igneous rock.n. plural A general name for coal-bearing strata.n. A metallic alloy used for the production, by casting in iron or brass molds, of cheap ornamental articles to be electroplated, usually consisting of lead and tin hardened by antimony, with occasional addition of other metals.