tellurium

[ te-loor-ee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a rare, lustrous, brittle, crystalline, silver-white element resembling sulfur in its properties, and usually occurring in nature combined with gold, silver, or other metals of high atomic weight: used in the manufacture of alloys and as a coloring agent in glass and ceramics. : Te; : 127.60; : 52; : 6.24.

tellurium

/ tɛˈlʊərɪəm /

noun

1. a brittle silvery-white nonmetallic element occurring both uncombined and in combination with metals: used in alloys of lead and copper and as a semiconductor. Symbol: Te; atomic no: 52; atomic wt: 127.60; valency: 2, 4, or 6; relative density: 6.24; melting pt: 449.57±0.3°C; boiling pt: 988°C

tellurium

/ tĕ-lr′ē-əm /

1. A metalloid element that occurs as either a brittle, shiny, silvery-white crystal or a gray or brown powder. Small amounts of tellurium are used to improve the alloys of various metals. Atomic number 52; atomic weight 127.60; melting point 449.5°C; boiling point 989.8°C; specific gravity 6.24; valence 2, 4, 6.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of tellurium¹

< New Latin (1798), equivalent to Latin tellūr- (stem of tellūs ) earth + -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of tellurium¹

C19: New Latin, from Latin tellūs the earth, formed by analogy with uranium

Example Sentences

"We believe our method will generalize to other materials, such as tin, selenium, tellurium and related alloys with low melting points, and it could be interesting to explore for future flexible electronic circuits."

From Science Daily

Through their investigation, the team discovered that the charge of tellurium oxide, a rare earth metal, increases in oxygen-deficient environments.

From Science Daily

The researchers observed evidence of tellurium, one of the rarest elements on Earth.

From Science Daily

The spectrum has broad lines that show the material is ejected at high speeds, but one feature is clear: light emitted by tellurium, an element rarer than platinum on Earth.

From Science Daily

Another close call is tellurium, which is used in industrial solar farms and where there may be only slightly more estimated resources than what would be required in a big green push.

From Seattle Times