Medal

Pronunciation

• enPR: mÄ•dʹ-É™l, IPA: /ˈmÉ›dÉ™l/
• Australia IPA: ˈmeɾ.É«Ì©
• Homophones: meddle, metal, mettle
• UK IPA: ˈmÉ›d.É«Ì©
• Homophones: meddle
• US IPA: ˈmɛɾ.É«Ì©
• Homophones: meddle, metal, mettle
• Rhymes: -É›dÉ™l

Origin

From Middle French medaille, medale, from Italian medaglia, from Late Latin medalia ("half a denarius").

Full definition of medal

Noun

1. A stamped metal disc used as a personal ornament, a charm, or a religious object.
• 1621, Robert Burton, The Anatomy of Melancholy, II.i.3:Whether their images, shrines, relics, consecrated things, holy water, medals, benedictions, those divine amulets, holy exorcisms, and the sign of the cross, be available in this disease?
2. A stamped or cast metal object (usually a disc), particularly one awarded as a prize or reward.

Derived terms

• gold medal — a medal designed for first-place winners
• silver medal — a medal designed for second-place winners
• bronze medal — a medal designed for third-place winners

Related terms

• medallic
• medallion
• medallist
• medallurgy
• medalet

Verb

1. (sports, very colloquial) To win a medal."He medalled twice at the Olympics"

Anagrams

• lamed