rare earth

noun

, Chemistry.

1. the oxide of any of the rare-earth elements contained in various minerals.

rare earth

noun

1. any oxide of a lanthanide
2. Also calledrare-earth element another name for lanthanide

Word History and Origins

Origin of rare earth¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

China is currently the world’s dominant producer of rare earths, used in a wide range of advanced tech products, having taken that crown from the US in the 1990s.

From Quartz

According to the company, the Round Top project has over a century’s worth of rare earth supplies.

From Quartz

It includes a more stringent approval process for mining and processing projects, as well as the import and export of rare earths.

From Quartz

Quoting unidentified analysts, it reported that China could restrict the US’s access to rare earths in response to Washington’s latest arms sales to Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its own territory.

From Quartz

The first thing to know about rare earths is that they are not actually all that rare.

From Quartz

But Joanna Magnusson was one of the rare Earth women who had come out with her husband, twenty years ago.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1797 Ekeberg showed that gadolinite contained another rare earth, which was given the name yttria.

From Project Gutenberg

The rare earth metals are found in the minerals gadolinite, samarskite, fergusonite, euxenite and cerite.

From Project Gutenberg

The first of the rare earth minerals was discovered in 1794 by J. Gadolin and was named gadolinite from its discoverer.

From Project Gutenberg

These crude earths, yttria and ceria, have supplied most if not all of the “rare earth” metals.

From Project Gutenberg