virgin metal
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of virgin metal
First recorded in 1660–70
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.
For one thing, the researchers found that although only a small amount of e-waste is recycled, that was enough to spare the planet from being mined for 2 trillion pounds of ore for virgin metal.
From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2024
Redwood buys virgin metal because there aren’t enough old batteries and scrap.
From New York Times ● Dec. 21, 2022
OPM hoped the drive would turn up 15-20,000,000 lb. of scrap aluminum which could either be converted directly into defense products or used to replace virgin metal which would then be freed for aircraft production.
From Time Magazine Archive
When steel uses aluminum, it uses it up completely, and around a quarter of its products require virgin metal.
From Time Magazine Archive
The ground here was that same shining mass of virgin metal, tumbled about and broken up in hopeless confusion.
From The Fire People by Cummings, Ray
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.
