a hard, silver-white, metallic chemical element, one of the alkaline-earth metals, found only in combination with others: it forms strong, hard, lightweight alloys with several metals: symbol, Be; at. no., 4
See beryllium in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(bə-rĭlˈē-əm)
noun Symbol Be
A high-melting, lightweight, corrosion-resistant, rigid, steel-gray metallic element used as an aerospace structural material, as a moderator and reflector in nuclear reactors, and in a copper alloy used for springs, electrical contacts, and nonsparking tools. Atomic number 4; atomic weight 9.0122; melting point 1,278°C; boiling point 2,970°C; specific gravity 1.848; valence 2. See Table at element.