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calcium definition

cal·cium (kal′sē əm)

noun

a soft, silver-white, metallic chemical element, one of the alkaline-earth metals, found in limestone, marble, chalk, etc., always in combination: it is used as a reducing agent and in fertilizer, and is the essential part of bones, shells, and teeth: symbol, Ca; at. no., 20

Etymology: ModL < L calx (gen. calcis), lime < or akin to Gr chalix, pebble + -ium: so named (1808) by Sir Humphry Davy

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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