metalloid

plural metalloids

1. chemistryAn element, such as silicon or germanium, intermediate in properties between that of a metal and a nonmetal; especially an elemental semiconductor.
2. obsoletechemistryThe metallic base of a fixed alkali, or alkaline earth; applied to sodium, potassium, and some other metallic substances whose metallic character was supposed to be not well defined.

   By some they [metals of the alkalies] were called metalloids; by some their simple nature was objected to

   1836, Sir Humphry Davy, Memoirs

3. obsoletechemistryA nonmetal.

comparative more metalloid · superlative most metalloid

1. not comparableOf or relating to the metalloids.
2. informalCharacteristic of the metal music genre.

   It expanded from bleary delay rippling with looped phrases to embrace molten metalloid raunch and blues grit, acoustic guitars and pedal steels.

   2004, Gene Santoro, Highway 61 Revisited

   1 more example

   Graham Massey of 808 State turns a Björkian moan into a vibrating siren and powers his strangely metalloid version of "Army Of Me" with it; the Brodsky String Quartet turns "Hyperballad" into a stately 3-D chess game.

   1997, CMJ New Music Monthly, number 43, page 12