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.
Met"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Metaled (? or ?) or Metalled; p. pr. & vb.
n. Metaling or Metalling.] To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's
bottom; to metal a road.
Met`al*am*mo"ni*um (?), n. [Metal + ammonium.] (Chem.) A hypothetical
radical derived from ammonium by the substitution of metallic atoms in
place of hydrogen.
Met`al*bu"min (?), n. [Pref. met- + albumin.] (Physiol. Chem.) A form
of albumin found in ascitic and certain serous fluids. It is sometimes
regarded as a mixture of albumin and mucin.
Me*tal"de*hyde (?), n. [Pref. met- + aldehyde.] (Chem.) A white
crystalline substance isomeric with, and obtained from, acetic aldehyde
by polymerization, and reconvertible into the same.
||Met`a*lep"sis (?), n.; pl. Metalepses (#). [L., fr. Gr. &?;
||participation, alteration, fr. &?; to partake, to take in exchange;
||&?; beyond + &?; to take.] (Rhet.) The continuation of a trope in one
||word through a succession of significations, or the union of two or
||more tropes of a different kind in one word.
Met"a*lep`sy (?), n. (Chem.) Exchange; replacement; substitution;
metathesis. [R.]
Met`a*lep"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?;] 1. Of or pertaining to a metalepsis.