metallic

[ muh-tal-ik ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of metal.
2. of the nature of or suggesting metal, as in luster, resonance, or hardness:

   metallic green; a harsh metallic sound.

3. Chemistry.
   1. (of a metal element) being in the free or uncombined state:

      metallic iron.

   2. containing or yielding metal.

noun

1. Textiles.
   1. a yarn or fiber made partly or entirely of metal and having a metallic appearance.
   2. a fabric made of such a yarn or fiber.

metallic

/ mɪˈtælɪk /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or consisting of metal or a metal
2. suggestive of a metal

   metallic lustre

   a metallic click

3. chem (of a metal element) existing in the free state rather than in combination

   metallic copper

metallic

/ mĭ-tăl′ĭk /

1. Relating to or having the characteristics of a metal.

Derived Forms

• meˈtallically, adverb

Other Words From

• me·talli·cal·ly adverb
• met·al·lic·i·ty [met-l-, is, -i-tee], met·al·le·i·ty [met-l-, ee, -i-tee], noun
• inter·me·tallic adjective
• multi·me·tallic adjective
• semi·me·tallic adjective
• unme·tallic adjective
• unme·talli·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of metallic¹

1560–70; < Latin metallicus < Greek metallikós of, for mines. See metal, -ic

Example Sentences

But that spacewalk can introduce something novel to the space station - the metallic “space smell”.

From BBC

“Radiation forms free radicals on the surface, and they react with oxygen inside the space station, creating a metallic smell,” she says.

From BBC

"In principle having materials such as wood which can burn up more easily would reduce certainly those metallic contaminants... But you may end up taking more material with you in the first place just to burn it up on the way down."

From BBC

At 7 p.m. on the dot, drag queen Jupiter Genesis kicked off the show, wearing a layered purple boa and a metallic bustier.

From Slate

"Officials tell us not to touch any metallic substance on the road."

From BBC

Related Words

• golden
• silvery