cadmium Hear it!

cadmium definition

cad·mium (kad′mē əm)

noun

a silver-white, malleable, ductile, metallic chemical element occurring as a sulfide or carbonate in zinc ores: it is used in some low-melting alloys, electroplating, rechargeable batteries, etc.: highly toxic dust or fumes: symbol, Cd; at. no., 48

Etymology: ModL < L cadmia, zinc ore < Gr kadmeia(gē), Cadmean (earth) (so called because found near Thebes, home of Cadmus) + -ium: so named (1817) by F. Strohmeyer (1776-1835), Ger chemist, because frequently found assoc. with zinc

Related Forms:

  • cadmic cad′·mic (-mik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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