metal noun [C or U]. B1 a ​chemical ​element, such as ​iron or ​gold, or a ​mixture of such ​elements, such as ​steel, that is ​generally hard and ​strong, and through which ​electricity and ​heat can ​travel: Metal, ​paper, and ​glass can be ​recycled. Silver, ​gold, and ​platinum are ​precious metals.