a chemical element, one of the halogens, usually in the form of a reddish-brown, corrosive liquid, that volatilizes to form a vapor that has an unpleasant odor and is very irritating to mucous membranes: used in making dyes, in photography, and, in the form of certain compounds, in antiknock motor fuel: symbol, Br; at. no., 35
Origin:
Fr brome < Gr brōmos, stench + -ine
See bromine in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun Symbol Br
A heavy, volatile, corrosive, reddish-brown, nonmetallic liquid element, having a highly irritating vapor. It is used in producing gasoline antiknock mixtures, fumigants, dyes, and photographic chemicals. Atomic weight 79.904; atomic number 35; melting point 7.2°C; boiling point 58.78°C; valence 1, 3, 5, 7. See Table at element.