Found 1 items, similar to Base metal.
English → English (gcide) Definition: Base metal Metal \Met"al\ (? or ?; 277), n. [F. m['e]tal, 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] Base \Base\ (b[=a]s), 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]