metallic glass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “metallic glass” mean?
A type of solid metallic material, typically an alloy, that lacks the long-range ordered crystalline structure of conventional metals and instead has an amorphous atomic structure like glass.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of solid metallic material, typically an alloy, that lacks the long-range ordered crystalline structure of conventional metals and instead has an amorphous atomic structure like glass.
Also called amorphous metal; a strong, hard, and often corrosion-resistant material used in high-performance applications such as transformer cores, sporting goods, and electronic casings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in the term itself. The field of study may be referred to as 'materials science' (more common UK/US) or 'materials engineering' (slightly more common US).
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally rare in general discourse; used only within materials science, engineering, and related industrial contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “metallic glass” in a Sentence
[Material] is a metallic glass.Researchers developed a new metallic glass based on [element].Metallic glass exhibits high [property].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metallic glass” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The alloy can be rapidly quenched to metallic-glass.
- They attempted to metallic-glass the surface layer.
American English
- The alloy can be rapidly quenched to metallic-glass.
- They attempted to metallic-glass the surface layer.
adjective
British English
- The metallic-glass component showed remarkable resilience.
- We studied its metallic-glass properties.
American English
- The metallic-glass component showed remarkable resilience.
- We studied its metallic-glass properties.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used in R&D, patents, or high-tech manufacturing sectors (e.g., 'The company holds a patent for a novel metallic glass process.').
Academic
Primary domain. Used in materials science, physics, and engineering papers (e.g., 'The study examines the fracture toughness of Pd-based metallic glasses.').
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only appear in popular science articles (e.g., 'This new watch has a scratch-resistant case made from metallic glass.').
Technical
Standard term. Used in specifications, research, and industrial applications (e.g., 'The transformer core utilises bulk metallic glass for reduced energy loss.').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metallic glass”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “metallic glass”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metallic glass”
- Using 'metallic glass' to refer to a shiny or mirror-like glass surface (that is 'mirrored glass').
- Treating it as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'metallic glasses' is acceptable for types, but 'a metallic glass' is singular).
- Confusing it with 'metal glass' (an informal variant).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not transparent. The term 'glass' refers only to its amorphous atomic structure, not its optical properties. It looks like a dull, greyish metal.
They often possess very high strength, hardness, elasticity, and excellent corrosion and wear resistance compared to crystalline metals of similar composition.
Yes, if heated above its glass transition temperature, it becomes a viscous liquid and can be moulded, which is a key processing advantage.
In high-end golf clubs (club heads), some mobile phone casings (e.g., older iPhone models), anti-theft tags (due to their magnetic properties), and high-efficiency transformer cores.
A type of solid metallic material, typically an alloy, that lacks the long-range ordered crystalline structure of conventional metals and instead has an amorphous atomic structure like glass.
Metallic glass is usually technical/scientific in register.
Metallic glass: in British English it is pronounced /mɪˌtæl.ɪk ˈɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈtæl.ɪk ˈɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a metal that has been cooled so rapidly its atoms 'freeze' in a random, disordered state like the molecules in a window pane, making it a metal with the internal structure of glass.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOLIDIFIED LIQUID (The material is conceptualised as a frozen liquid due to its rapid cooling from a melt).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining structural characteristic of a metallic glass?