Metallisk

Metallisk is an adjective used in several Scandinavian languages to describe metal-like properties. It is most commonly applied to appearance and physical characteristics, such as a metallic luster, reflectivity, and a surface that resembles polished metal. In scientific contexts it can also refer to materials that conduct heat and electricity well, though the term is primarily descriptive.

The word is formed from the root metall- (for metal) plus the suffix -isk, a productive pattern in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish for creating adjectives. In everyday language metallisk often describes objects or substances with a metal-like sheen, while in mineralogy and materials science it helps distinguish surfaces that look metallic from those with other kinds of luster, such as vitreous or resinous.

In practice, metallisk describes both appearance and certain physical properties. A metal, such as iron or copper, typically exhibits a metallisk luster and high electrical conductivity, which are common criteria in material descriptions. Some non-metallic substances can also display a metallisk appearance under particular lighting, though their underlying properties differ from true metals.

Metallisk should not be confused with chemical classifications of metals or with terms that indicate chemical composition. It is primarily a descriptive term used to convey metal-like characteristics in materials, minerals, and objects. See also metall, luster, mineralogy.