base metal

American  

noun

1. any metal other than a precious or noble metal, as copper, lead, zinc, or tin.

2. the principal metal of an alloy.

3. the principal metal of a piece underlying a coating of another metal; core.

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base metal British  

noun

1. any of certain common metals such as copper, lead, zinc, and tin, as distinct from the precious metals, gold, silver, and platinum

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Example Sentences

So, he issued more of England’s silver coins at familiar face values, while gradually changing the base metal to mostly copper with silver coating.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

The tub may be wooden, the ewer convincingly rendered as base metal, but the bedding and Mary’s gown are of silk with golden threads that is recognizably Italian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Pairing these metal oxides with a conductive carbon network improves electron movement and prevents the particles from clumping together, which is a frequent issue in conventional base metal catalysts.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2025

The copper mining company’s stock gained ground along with prices for the base metal.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 27, 2023

Gogol has a room of his own, a bed with a built-in drawer in its base, metal shelves that hold Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, a View-Master, an Etch-A- Sketch.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri