Metallic describes something that looks like, sounds like, or is made of metal. A metallic paint on a car has that shiny, reflective quality you see in polished steel or chrome. A metallic taste in your mouth (like when you accidentally bite your tongue) resembles the flavor of touching metal to your lips.

Metals like iron, copper, gold, and aluminum share certain qualities: they conduct electricity, they're usually shiny when polished, and they make a distinctive ringing sound when struck. When we call something metallic, we're saying it has one or more of these metal-like properties.

You might describe a robot's voice as metallic because it sounds cold and machine-like. A fabric with metallic threads catches the light like coins or jewelry. Scientists use metallic precisely when describing elements that behave like metals, conducting heat and electricity efficiently.

The word helps us describe things that remind us of metal without actually being metal. A metallic blue paint on a sports car isn't made of metal, but it has that gleaming, almost liquid shine that makes it look powerful and sleek.