nonmetal
n.
chemical element without metallic properties
Nonmetal
nonmetal
Noun
1. a chemical element lacking typical metallic properties
(hypernym) chemical element, element
Adjective
1. not containing or resembling or characteristic of a metal; "nonmetallic elements"
(synonym) nonmetallic
(similar) metalloid
Nonmetal
(n.)
Any one of the set of elements which, as contrasted with the metals, possess, produce, or receive, acid rather than basic properties; a metalloid; as, oxygen, sulphur, and chlorine are nonmetals.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter.
About
nonmetal
(metal,metalloid) A nonmetal is a substance that conducts heat and electricity poorly, is brittle or waxy or gaseous, and cannot be hammered into sheets or drawn into wire. Nonmetals gain electrons easily to form
anions . About 20% of the known chemical elements are nonmetals.