Noun: nonmetal 'nón'me-t(u)l
- A chemical element lacking typical metallic properties
"Oxygen and carbon are examples of nonmetals"
- Not containing, resembling or characteristic of a metal
"nonmetal elements";
- nonmetallic
Derived forms: nonmetals
See also: metalloid
Type of: chemical element, element
Antonym: metal
Encyclopedia: Nonmetal