Metal vs. Medal — What's the Difference?

A metal (from Greek μέταλλον métallon, "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typically malleable (they can be hammered into thin sheets) or ductile (can be drawn into wires).

A medal or medallion is a small portable artistic object, a thin disc, normally of metal, carrying a design, usually on both sides. They typically have a commemorative purpose of some kind, and many are given as awards.

A solid material which is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity (e.g. iron, gold, silver, and aluminium, and alloys such as steel)

A metal disc typically of the size of a large coin and bearing an inscription or design, made to commemorate an event or awarded as a distinction to someone such as a soldier or athlete.

Broken stone for use in making roads

Win a medal in a sporting event

Molten glass before it is blown or cast.

A flat piece of metal stamped with a design or an inscription commemorating an event or a person, often given as an award.

Heavy metal or similar rock music

A piece of metal stamped with a religious device, used as an object of veneration or commemoration.

Made from or coated with metal

To win a medal, as in a sports contest

Make or mend (a road) with road metal

To award a medal to.

Any of a category of electropositive elements that usually have a shiny surface, are generally good conductors of heat and electricity, and can be melted or fused, hammered into thin sheets, or drawn into wires. Typical metals form salts with nonmetals, basic oxides with oxygen, and alloys with one another.

A stamped metal disc used as a personal ornament, a charm, or a religious object.

An alloy of two or more metallic elements.

A stamped or cast metal object (usually a disc), particularly one awarded as a prize or reward.

An object made of metal.

To win a medal.

Basic character; mettle.

(transitive) To award a medal to.

Broken stones used for road surfaces or railroad beds.

A piece of metal in the form of a coin, struck with a device, and intended to preserve the remembrance of a notable event or an illustrious person, or to serve as a reward.

Molten glass, especially when used in glassmaking.

To honor or reward with a medal.

Molten cast iron.

An award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event

(Printing) Type made of metal.

(Music) Heavy metal.

To cover or surface (a roadbed, for example) with broken stones.

(heading) Chemical elements or alloys, and the mines where their ores come from.

Any of a number of chemical elements in the periodic table that form a metallic bond with other metal atoms; generally shiny, somewhat malleable and hard, often a conductor of heat and electricity.

Any material with similar physical properties, such as an alloy.

(astronomy) An element which was not directly created after the Big Bang but instead formed through nuclear reactions; any element other than hydrogen and helium.

Crushed rock, stones etc. used to make a road.

(mining) The ore from which a metal is derived.

(obsolete) A mine from which ores are taken.

(tincture) A light tincture used in a coat of arms, specifically argent (white or silver) and or (gold).

Molten glass that is to be blown or moulded to form objects.

(music) A category of rock music encompassing a number of genres (including thrash metal, death metal, heavy metal, etc.) characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.

The substance that constitutes something or someone; matter; hence, character or temper.

The effective power or calibre of guns carried by a vessel of war.

The rails of a railway.

The actual airline operating a flight, rather than any of the codeshare operators.

(music) Characterized by strong drum-beats and distorted guitars.

Having the emotional or social characteristics associated with metal music; brash, bold, frank, unyielding, etc.

To make a road using crushed rock, stones etc.

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.

Ore from which a metal is derived; - so called by miners.

A mine from which ores are taken.

The substance of which anything is made; material; hence, constitutional disposition; character; temper.

Courage; spirit; mettle. See Mettle.

The broken stone used in macadamizing roads and ballasting railroads.

The effective power or caliber of guns carried by a vessel of war.

Glass in a state of fusion.

The rails of a railroad.

To cover with metal; as, to metal a ship's bottom; to metal a road.

Any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

A mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten;

Cover with metal

Containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal;