[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

metal \met"al\ ? or ?; 277, n. f. m'etal, l. metallum
   metal, mine, gr. ? mine; cf. gr. ? to search after. cf.
   mettle, medal.
   1. chem. an elementary substance, as sodium, calcium, or
      copper, whose oxide or hydroxide has basic rather than
      acid properties, as contrasted with the nonmetals, or
      metalloids. no sharp line can be drawn between the metals
      and nonmetals, and certain elements partake of both acid
      and basic qualities, as chromium, manganese, bismuth, etc.
      1913 webster

   note: popularly, the name is applied to certain hard, fusible
         metals, as gold, silver, copper, iron, tin, lead, zinc,
         nickel, etc., and also to the mixed metals, or metallic
         alloys, as brass, bronze, steel, bell metal, etc.
         1913 webster

   2. ore from which a metal is derived; -- so called by miners.
      --raymond.
      1913 webster

   3. a mine from which ores are taken. obs.
      1913 webster

            slaves . . . and persons condemned to metals. --jer.
                                                  taylor.
      1913 webster

   4. the substance of which anything is made; material; hence,
      constitutional disposition; character; temper.
      1913 webster

            not till god make men of some other metal than
            earth.                                --shak.
      1913 webster

   5. courage; spirit; mettle. see mettle. --shak.
      1913 webster

   note: the allusion is to the temper of the metal of a sword
         blade. --skeat.
         1913 webster

   6. the broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting
      railroads.
      1913 webster

   7. the effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel
      of war.
      1913 webster

   8. glass in a state of fusion. --knight.
      1913 webster

   9. pl. the rails of a railroad. eng.
      1913 webster

   base metal chem., any one of the metals, as iron, lead,
      etc., which are readily tarnished or oxidized, in contrast
      with the noble metals. in general, a metal of small value,
      as compared with gold or silver.

   fusible metal metal., a very fusible alloy, usually
      consisting of bismuth with lead, tin, or cadmium.

   heavy metals chem., the metallic elements not included in
      the groups of the alkalies, alkaline earths, or the
      earths; specifically, the heavy metals, as gold, mercury,
      platinum, lead, silver, etc.

   light metals chem., the metallic elements of the alkali
      and alkaline earth groups, as sodium, lithium, calcium,
      magnesium, etc.; also, sometimes, the metals of the
      earths, as aluminium.

   muntz metal, an alloy for sheathing and other purposes,
      consisting of about sixty per cent of copper, and forty of
      zinc. sometimes a little lead is added. it is named from
      the inventor.

   prince's metal old chem., an alloy resembling brass,
      consisting of three parts of copper to one of zinc; --
      also called prince rupert's metal.
      1913 webster
see also:
mettle medal base metal fusible metal heavy metals light metals 
muntz metal prince's metal prince rupert's metal 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

base \base\ b=as, a. oe. bass, f. bas, low, fr. ll. bassus
   thick, fat, short, humble; cf. l. bassus, a proper name, and
   w. bas shallow. cf. bass a part in music.
   1. of little, or less than the usual, height; of low growth;
      as, base shrubs. archaic --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. low in place or position. obs. --shak.
      1913 webster

   3. of humble birth; or low degree; lowly; mean. archaic "a
      peasant and base swain." --bacon.
      1913 webster

   4. illegitimate by birth; bastard. archaic
      1913 webster

            why bastard? wherefore base?          --shak.
      1913 webster

   5. of little comparative value, as metal inferior to gold and
      silver, the precious metals.
      1913 webster

   6. alloyed with inferior metal; debased; as, base coin; base
      bullion.
      1913 webster

   7. morally low. hence: low-minded; unworthy; without dignity
      of sentiment; ignoble; mean; illiberal; menial; as, a base
      fellow; base motives; base occupations. "a cruel act of a
      base and a cowardish mind." --robynson more's utopia.
      "base ingratitude." --milton.
      1913 webster

   8. not classical or correct. "base latin." --fuller.
      1913 webster

   9. deep or grave in sound; as, the base tone of a violin. in
      this sense, commonly written bass.
      1913 webster

   10. law not held by honorable service; as, a base estate,
       one held by services not honorable; held by villenage.
       such a tenure is called base, or low, and the tenant, a
       base tenant.
       1913 webster

   base fee, formerly, an estate held at the will of the lord;
      now, a qualified fee. see note under fee, n., 4.

   base metal. see under metal.
      1913 webster

   syn: dishonorable; worthless; ignoble; low-minded; infamous;
        sordid; degraded.

   usage: base, vile, mean. these words, as expressing
          moral qualities, are here arranged in the order of
          their strength, the strongest being placed first. base
          marks a high degree of moral turpitude; vile and mean
          denote, in different degrees, the lack of what is
          valuable or worthy of esteem. what is base excites our
          abhorrence; what is vile provokes our disgust or
          indignation; what is mean awakens contempt. base is
          opposed to high-minded; vile, to noble; mean, to
          liberal or generous. ingratitude is base; sycophancy
          is vile; undue compliances are mean.
          1913 webster
see also:
bass bass. base fee fee base metal metal 
base vile mean 

Base Metal >> B Words
Base Metal, definition of term: Base Metal
base+metal_pag1.html

Base >> B Words
Base, definition of term: Base
base_pag1.html

Base 64 >> B Words
Base 64, definition of term: Base 64
base+64_pag1.html

Alkali Metal >> A Words
Alkali Metal, definition of term: Alkali Metal
alkali+metal_pag1.html