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thallium definition

thal·lium (t̸hal′ē əm)

noun

a rare, poisonous, bluish-gray, soft, metallic chemical element, used in making photoelectric cells, rat poisons, etc.: symbol, Tl; at. no. 81

Etymology: ModL: so named by Sir William Crookes, its discoverer < Gr thallos, young, green shoot (< thallein: see Thalia) because of its green spectral line

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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