electrum

[ ih-lek-truhm ]

noun

1. an amber-colored alloy of gold and silver used in ancient times.
2. an alloy composed of about 50 percent copper, 30 percent nickel, and 20 percent zinc.
3. German silver; nickel silver.

electrum

/ ɪˈlɛktrəm /

noun

1. an alloy of gold (55–88 per cent) and silver used for jewellery and ornaments

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrum¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek ḗlektron amber, alloy of gold and silver

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrum¹

C14: from Latin, from Greek ēlektron amber

Example Sentences

This song has an axis of electrum, chile.

From New York Times

“Electric...that’s like electrum. That’s a kind of stone, a jewel, made out of gum from trees. There’s insects in it, sometimes.”

From Literature

Egyptian Pharaohs send expeditions to Punt to recover precious metals, like gold, silver, electrum and rare gemstones.

From Scientific American

And yet if silver be parted from the electrum, then gold remains and not electrum; if silver be taken away from Stannum, then lead remains and not Stannum.

From Project Gutenberg

In both cases the name is derived from the pale yellow colour of electrum, resembling that of amber.

From Project Gutenberg