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English Lexicon

Base metal

/ˈbeɪs ˌmɛt.əl/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #14500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A metal that is not considered precious and is often used in industrial applications.

    "Copper and aluminum are common examples of base metals used in construction."
  2. 2

    Metals that are more reactive and less valuable than precious metals.

    "Zinc is classified as a base metal due to its lower market value compared to gold."
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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the combination of 'base' (from Old French 'bas', meaning low or inferior, referring to metals of lower value) and 'metal' (from Latin 'metallum', from Greek 'metallon', meaning mine or quarry). Historically used in metallurgy and alchemy to distinguish common, easily oxidized metals from precious metals like gold and silver.

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