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
When steel uses aluminum, it uses it up completely, and around a quarter of its products require virgin metal.
From Time Magazine Archive
In copper, there is an actual surplus of secondary metal on the market, while painfully short virgin metal is still insisted upon for belts and insignia, laundry equipment, whistles, zippers, etc.
From Time Magazine Archive
Into this, carved in the virgin metal, both made their way.
From The Flying Legion by England, George Allan
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.
