heavy metal
Americannoun
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any metal with a specific gravity of 5.0 or greater, especially one that is toxic to organisms, as lead, mercury, copper, and cadmium.
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aggressive and heavily amplified rock music, commonly performed by groups that wear spectacular or bizarre costumes.
noun
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a type of rock music characterized by a strong beat and amplified instrumental effects, sometimes with violent, or nihilistic lyrics
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( as modifier )
a heavy-metal band
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a metal with a high specific gravity
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military large guns or shot
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of heavy metal
1860–65, for literal sense
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Earlier this month, forward Mohamed Salah said the club must return to being a "heavy metal attacking team that opponents fear" after "crumbling" to a defeat at Aston Villa.
From BBC • May 30, 2026
It marks the first time the heavy metal veterans have collaborated with UK blood services, but follows a similar drive in the US and Australia.
From BBC • May 26, 2026
Plumes of smoke and ash then deposited the heavy metal across the burn zone.
From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026
France is mulling how to prevent people from ingesting too much of the heavy metal cadmium, after a warning their breakfast cereal and baguettes could be contaminated with the toxin.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
Two ugly boys who must have been his sons went before him, struggling with the weight of a heavy metal shield as tall as they were.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
