metol: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
HighFormal, informal, technical
Quick answer
What does “metol” mean?
A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity.
A category of rock music characterized by amplified distortion, emphatic rhythms, and often aggressive or theatrical performance; also, the broken stones used for road surfaces or railway track ballast; colloquially, courage or spirit.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'metal' can specifically refer to crushed stone for roadbeds (e.g., 'road metal'). This usage is rare in US English. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Similar core connotations of strength and durability. The musical genre connotation is universal.
Frequency
The word is equally frequent in both dialects for its primary meaning. The 'road metal' sense has higher frequency in UK technical/engineering contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “metol” in a Sentence
be made of [metal]coat [object] with [metal]extract [metal] from [ore]bend/shape [metal]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metol” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They will metal the road next week.
- The company specialised in metalling driveways.
American English
- They will pave the road with crushed stone next week.
- The process involves applying a metal coating.
adverb
British English
- (Rare/Non-standard) Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- (Rare/Non-standard) Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- A metal box
- The metal railings were painted black.
American English
- A metal container
- The metal detector beeped.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to commodities trading (e.g., 'industrial metals'), manufacturing materials.
Academic
Used in chemistry, physics, materials science, engineering, and geology.
Everyday
Commonly refers to objects, car parts, jewellery, and music genres.
Technical
Specific classifications like 'transition metals', properties like 'metal fatigue'.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metol”
- Misspelling as 'mettle' when referring to the material.
- Using 'metal' as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'It is made of metal' correct, 'It is made of a metal' usually incorrect unless specifying a type).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is primarily uncountable when referring to the substance (e.g., 'a bridge made of metal'). It becomes countable when referring to types of metals (e.g., 'Iron and copper are both metals').
'Metal' is the physical material. 'Mettle' is an uncountable noun meaning resilience and strength of character (e.g., 'test one's mettle'). They are homophones in many dialects.
Yes, but it is rare and technical. In UK English, it can mean 'to cover or fit with metal' or 'to supply with road metal'. In general use, verbs like 'plate', 'coat', or 'pave' are more common.
Yes, slightly. In British English, the 't' is more aspirated /ˈmet(ə)l/. In American English, it is often pronounced as a voiced alveolar flap, sounding like 'medal' /ˈmed(ə)l/.
A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity.
Metol is usually formal, informal, technical in register.
Metol: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmet(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmed(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “heavy metal”
- “precious metal”
- “road metal”
- “to have metal (courage)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MEDAL made of shiny METAL.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRENGTH IS METAL (e.g., 'nerves of steel'), VALUE IS METAL (e.g., 'worth its weight in gold'), MUSIC IS METAL (for the genre).
Practice
Quiz
In a UK civil engineering context, 'metal' most specifically can refer to: