Dictionary Home »
Webster's New World College Dictionary » dysprosium
dysprosium
dysprosium definition
dys·pro·sium (dis prō′zē əm, -sē-)
noun
a silver-white chemical element, one of the rare-earth elements, with a great capacity to absorb neutrons and with strong magnetic properties, esp. at very low temperatures: symbol, Dy; at. no., 66
Etymology: ModL < Gr dysprositos, difficult of access < dys-, dys- + prositos, approachable < prosienai, come to < pros, toward + ienai, to go (see ion): so named (1886) by its discoverer, Fr chemist P.-E. Lecoq de Boisbaudran (1838-1912)
Browse dictionary definitions near dysprosium
Also Mentioned In