First Known Use: circa 1578
Dictionary
1medal
noun med·al \ˈme-dəl\
: a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement
Full Definition of MEDAL
1
: a small usually metal object bearing a religious emblem or picture
2
: a piece of metal often resembling a coin and having a stamped design that is issued to commemorate a person or event or awarded for excellence or achievement
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Origin of MEDAL
Middle French medaille, from Old Italian medaglia coin worth half a denarius, medal, from Vulgar Latin *medalis half, alteration of Late Latin medialis middle, from Latin medius — more at mid
2medal
verb
: to win a medal
med·aled also med·alledmed·al·ing also med·al·ling \ˈmed-liŋ, ˈme-dəl-iŋ\
Full Definition of MEDAL
intransitive verb
: to win a medal <medaled in figure skating>
See medal defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MEDAL
1979
MEDAL Defined for Kids
medal
noun med·al \ˈme-dəl\
Definition of MEDAL for Kids
: a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with design and words in honor of a special event, a person, or an achievement
Headscratcher for MEDAL
The four words medal, meddle, metal, and mettle are often pronounced the same, but they have very different meanings. Here's a sentence that uses them all. “I don't mean to meddle, but did you win that medal made of metal by showing your mettle?”
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Next Word in the Dictionary: Medal for MeritPrevious Word in the Dictionary: medakaAll Words Near: medal
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