metallurgy

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

metallurgy
    n 1: the science and technology of metals

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Metallurgy \Met"al*lur`gy\, n. [F. m['e]tallurgie, fr. L.
   metallum metal, Gr. ? a mine + the root of ? work. See
   {Metal}, and {Work}.]
   The art of working metals, comprehending the whole process of
   separating them from other matters in the ore, smelting,
   refining, and parting them; sometimes, in a narrower sense,
   only the process of extracting metals from their ores.
   [1913 Webster]