metalloid

[ met-l-oid ]

noun

1. a nonmetal that in combination with a metal forms an alloy.
2. an element that has both metallic and nonmetallic properties, as arsenic, silicon, or boron.

adjective

1. of or relating to a metalloid.
2. resembling both a metal and a nonmetal.

metalloid

/ ˈmɛtəˌlɔɪd /

noun

1. a nonmetallic element, such as arsenic or silicon, that has some of the properties of a metal

adjective

1. of or being a metalloid
2. resembling a metal

metalloid

/ mĕt′l-oid′ /

1. An element that is not a metal but that has some properties of metals. Arsenic, for example, is a metalloid that has the visual appearance of a metal, but is a poor conductor of electricity; metalloids are generally semiconductors . The elements classified as metalloids are boron, silicon, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium, and polonium. Metalloids can be viewed as a diagonal section on the Period Table, separating metals from nonmetals.
2. A nonmetallic element, such as carbon, that can form alloys with metals.

Word History and Origins

Origin of metalloid¹

First recorded in 1825–35; metall- + -oid

Example Sentences

Arsenic, a highly toxic element that resembles a metal but which is technically a metalloid, was an easily accessible poison in the mid-19th century; its poisonous properties were widely known.

From Salon

Those waters generally contain dissolved metals or metalloids which may include lead, copper, silver, manganese, cadmium, iron, zinc and mercury, among others.

From Washington Times

Heavy metals and metalloids like chromium, lead and arsenic accounted for 54 percent of the total pollutants, it said.

From Reuters

The last thorough environmental study of the site was carried out more than 10 years ago, but it reveals the presence of various metals and metalloids such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium, zinc, nickel and boron.

From BBC

Antimony is a naturally forming element and metalloid that is found predominantly as sulfide mineral stibnite and has been used by humans for thousands of years.

From The Guardian