Preferred term

Metal

Definition

Crystalline, opaque solid with high mechanical strength, ductile, malleable, shiny and with high thermal conductivity. Metals are rarely found in nature in their pure state. They usually form part of various ores, from which they are extracted by metallurgical processes. Metals and their alloys have been used in the manufacture of numerous cultural goods, from forging and smelting to goldsmithing, as well as decorative elements in textiles, ceramics and furniture.