base metal

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.

So, he issued more of England’s silver coins at familiar face values, while gradually changing the base metal to mostly copper with silver coating.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

However, judge Lord Sandison rejected the claims, describing the way Biffa interpreted the letter as "wishful thinking" on a par with trying to turn "base metal into gold".

From BBC • Jan. 16, 2026

The tub may be wooden, the ewer convincingly rendered as base metal, but the bedding and Mary’s gown are of silk with golden threads that is recognizably Italian.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

Pairing these metal oxides with a conductive carbon network improves electron movement and prevents the particles from clumping together, which is a frequent issue in conventional base metal catalysts.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2025

Of course ‘made to work’ is a slippery concept: plenty of alchemists thought they had seen base metal turn into gold, and plenty of doctors thought they had cured their patients through bloodletting.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton