wolfram

[ wool-fruhm, vawl- ]

noun

1. Chemistry. tungsten.
2. Mineralogy. wolframite.

wolfram

/ ˈwʊlfrəm /

noun

1. another name for tungsten

wolfram

/ wl′frəm /

1. See tungsten

Word History and Origins

Origin of wolfram¹

1750–60; < German Wolfram originally, wolframite, probably equivalent to Wolf wolf + -ram, representing Middle High German rām soot, dirt; formed on the model of personal names with initial Wolf-, as a contemptuous epithet for the mineral, which was considered worthless in comparison with tin ores, with which it is often found

Word History and Origins

Origin of wolfram¹

C18: from German, originally perhaps from the proper name, Wolfram, used pejoratively of tungsten because it was thought inferior to tin

Example Sentences

We can even explain that odd one, tungsten and wolfram.

From Forbes

It is being re-opened by a company called Wolf Minerals, named after "wolfram", an alternative name for tungsten and why the element is represented by a W in the periodic table.

From BBC

A miner holds wolfram in Ngungu, 60km west of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where mineral wealth has caused conflict.

From The Guardian

Of wolfram—taking only one example—this part of the State alone can supply the world's demand, and have a good deal to spare afterwards.

From Project Gutenberg

Tungsten, tung′sten, n. a rare metal, chiefly derived from wolfram, which is a tungstate of iron and manganese, and likewise found in scheelite, which is a tungstate of lime.—n.

From Project Gutenberg