metals
metals — noun
- metalssingular
- metalsesplural
1. A hard, shiny material like iron, gold, or steel that lets heat and electricity
A hard, shiny material like iron, gold, or steel that lets heat and electricity pass through it.
The old bridge was held together with rusted metal bolts and plates.
Gold and silver are precious metals that people have valued for centuries.
precious metals — the plural form used when speaking of types
The blacksmith heated the metal until it glowed a deep orange.
Amina sorted the recycling into separate bins for glass, metal, and paper.
Different metals expand at different rates when the temperature rises.
用法筆記
Uncountable when referring to the material in general ('made of metal'). Can be plural ('metals') when talking about different types, as in 'precious metals' or 'industrial metals.'
常見錯誤
2. Loud, aggressive rock music played with heavily distorted electric guitars and a
Loud, aggressive rock music played with heavily distorted electric guitars and a pounding beat.
Takeshi's band plays heavy metal at a small club every Friday night.
heavy metal — the full genre name
Her grandmother could not understand why she enjoyed such loud metal music.
The summer festival featured bands playing metal, punk, and classic rock.
Dmitri wore a black T-shirt with the name of a famous metal band on it.
Metal concerts are known for their high energy and headbanging crowds.
- heavy metal
the full term; 'metal' is the shortened everyday form
- hard rock
a broader, less aggressive genre; metal is typically louder and heavier
- thrash
a fast, aggressive subgenre of metal with shouted vocals
用法筆記
Often called 'heavy metal' in full. In everyday conversation, speakers simply say 'metal.' Not to be confused with the material sense — context (music, bands, concerts) makes the meaning clear.
常見錯誤
metals — verb
- metalspresent simple I / you / we / they
- metalses3rd person singular
- metalsing-ing form
- metalsedpast simple
1. To cover a surface or object with a layer of metal for protection or strength.
To cover a surface or object with a layer of metal for protection or strength.
The workshop metals the tips of wooden walking sticks for extra strength.
metal + object — transitive verb with direct object
Road workers metaled the dirt track before the rainy season arrived.
The engineers decided to metal the old bridge supports to stop them rotting.
The factory metals plastic car parts to give them a shiny chrome finish.
文法句型
metal + something
用法筆記
Rare in everyday speech; mainly found in engineering, road-building, and industrial contexts. The past form 'metaled' (or 'metalled' in British English) is common in descriptions of road surfaces.