Definition
A solid material that is typically hard, shiny, malleable, fusible, and ductile, with good electrical and thermal conductivity. In a broader sense, it refers to any mineral or metallic element.
| Arabic | مَعْدِن |
| Translitertion | Maʿdin |
| Pronunciation | |
Grammatical Information
- Part of Speech: Noun (اسم – Ism)
- Gender: Masculine (مُذَكَّر – Mudhakkar)
- Number: Singular (مُفْرَد – Mufrad)
- Note: The plural form is مَعَادِن (Maʿādin).
Example Sentences
| Arabic | Transliteration | English Translation | Pronunciation |
| الْحَدِيدُ مَعْدِنٌ مُهِمٌّ | Al-ḥadīdu maʿdinun muhimun. | Iron is an important metal. | |
| الذَّهَبُ ثَمِينٌ جِدًّا | Adh-dhahabu thamīnun jiddan. | Gold is very precious. | |
| النُّحَاسُ مُوَصِّلٌ جَيِّدٌ لِلْكَهْرَبَاءِ | An-nuḥāsu muwaṣṣilun jayyidun lil-kahrabāʾ. | Copper is a good conductor of electricity. |
Related Words and Phrases
- Synonym (مُرَادِف): فِلِز (Filizz): A more technical scientific term specifically for “metallic element.”
- Words from the Same Root:
- تَعْدِين (Taʿdīn): Mining (the industry of extracting metals).
- مَنْجَم (Manjam): A mine (though from a different root, it is the location where maʿdin is found).
- عَدَنِيّ (ʿAdaniyy): Mineral or metallic (Adjective).
Cultural Context
The study of metals is deeply rooted in the history of Arabic Alchemy (الخِيمِيَاء – al-khīmiyāʾ). Arab scholars were pioneers in chemical processes, viewing metals not just as materials, but as substances with mystical and symbolic properties.