Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of a number of elements, such as oxygen or sulfur, that lack the physical and chemical properties of metals.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In. n chem., an element which has not the character of a metal. See metalloid.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Chem.) Any one of the set of elements which, as contrasted with the metals, possess, produce, or receive, acid rather than basic properties; a metalloid.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun chemistry an element, such as phosphorus or chlorine, that does not have the chemical or physical properties of a metal

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective not containing or resembling or characteristic of a metal
  • noun a chemical element lacking typical metallic properties

Etymologies

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Examples

  • The interiors are about 14% of the weight, with the remaining 15% from other car parts that are made from nonmetal glass, electrical components, doors, liquids and closures.

    Aluminum Tests Its Mettle Against Steel in Drive for Lighter Cars Robert Guy Matthews 2011

  • Another 232 were issued to metal and nonmetal mines, a category that includes quarries and cement plants, among other things.

    Feds Issued 600 Mine Safety Violations In September AP 2010

  • Another 232 were issued to metal and nonmetal mines, a category that includes quarries and cement plants, among other things.

    Feds Issued 600 Mine Safety Violations In September AP 2010

  • The problem is that if these irresponsible narcissists get publicity, talk show and tv time and fame and promote their desire for moneymaking opportunities ... it will encourage others to do the same stupid stunts and maybe one of them will be carrying plastic explosives, poison, or some other nonmetal weopen, thus endangering our President, his family, staff, and guests. ...

    'Crashers' investigation deepens 2009

  • Nail file: to smooth and shape the nails nonmetal, 180 grit or higher

    Best in Beauty Riku Campo 2010

  • One of the biggest differences was using aluminum in key parts of the fuselage instead of composites, the carbon epoxy and other nonmetal materials used in the first prototypes on the theory that would save weight.

    The Dream Machine Richard Whittle 2010

  • One of the biggest differences was using aluminum in key parts of the fuselage instead of composites, the carbon epoxy and other nonmetal materials used in the first prototypes on the theory that would save weight.

    The Dream Machine Richard Whittle 2010

  • One of the biggest differences was using aluminum in key parts of the fuselage instead of composites, the carbon epoxy and other nonmetal materials used in the first prototypes on the theory that would save weight.

    The Dream Machine Richard Whittle 2010

  • Hoping that the nonmetal handle would interrupt a lethal electrical shock, in seconds I was hacking at the conduit like a demented ax murderer.

    Silver Zombie Carole Nelson Douglas 2010

  • But it could be hard to find a showerhead without some nonmetal materials inside the head.

    Recent study points to showerheads as bacterial breeding ground 2009

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