HEAVY METAL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does heavy metal mean? 

• HEAVY METAL (noun)
  The noun HEAVY METAL has 2 senses:

1. a metal of relatively high density (specific gravity greater than about 5) or of high relative atomic weight (especially one that is poisonous like mercury or lead)

2. loud and harsh sounding rock music with a strong beat; lyrics usually involve violent or fantastic imagery

  Familiarity information: HEAVY METAL used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HEAVY METAL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A metal of relatively high density (specific gravity greater than about 5) or of high relative atomic weight (especially one that is poisonous like mercury or lead)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Hypernyms ("heavy metal" is a kind of...):

alloy; metal (a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten)

metal; metallic element (any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Loud and harsh sounding rock music with a strong beat; lyrics usually involve violent or fantastic imagery

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

heavy metal; heavy metal music

Hypernyms ("heavy metal" is a kind of...):

rock; rock'n'roll; rock-and-roll; rock 'n' roll; rock and roll; rock music (a genre of popular music originating in the 1950s; a blend of black rhythm-and-blues with white country-and-western)

 Context examples 

In addition, MCP decreases prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels and may remove heavy metals.

(Modified Citrus Pectin Supplement, NCI Thesaurus)

Immunodeficiency may also be induced by some chemicals, heavy metals, alkylating agents, radiation, and thymectomy.

(Immunodeficient Mouse, NCI Thesaurus)

Histidine is also required for blood cell manufacture and protects tissues against damage caused by radiation and heavy metals.

(Histidine, NCI Thesaurus)

Fanconi syndrome may also be caused by other diseases, a lack of vitamin D, or exposure to heavy metals or chemicals, including certain anticancer drugs.

(Fanconi syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

As a degradation product of penicillin antibiotics, penicillamine chelates with heavy metals and increases their urinary excretion.

(Penicillamine, NCI Thesaurus)

Kilonovae occur when two neutron stars merge creating a turbocharged explosion that instantly produces large quantities of heavy metals.

(Astronomers find a golden glow from a distant stellar collision, National Science Foundation)

The observations represent the first time that so-called heavy metals—elements heavier than hydrogen and helium—have been spotted escaping from a hot Jupiter, a large, gaseous exoplanet very close to its star.

(Hubble Uncovers a ‘Heavy Metal’ Exoplanet Shaped Like a Football, NASA)

Pentetic acid (DTPA) has strong affinity for iron but also shows affinities for other heavy metals, thereby is used in the treatment of iron-storage disease and poisoning from heavy and radioactive metals.

(Pentetic Acid, NCI Thesaurus)

Methionine chelates heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, aiding their excretion.

(Methionine, NCI Thesaurus)

Examples of neurotoxins include chemotherapy agents, radiation treatment, heavy metals, pesticides, and food additives.

(Neurotoxicity Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)