aluminum

[ uh-loo-muh-nuhm ]

noun

1. Chemistry. a silver-white metallic element, light in weight, ductile, malleable, and not readily corroded or tarnished, occurring combined in nature in igneous rock, shale, clay, and most soil: used in alloys and for lightweight utensils, castings, airplane parts, etc. : alum.; : Al; : 26.98; : 13; : 2.70 at 20°C.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing aluminum:

   an aluminum frying pan.

aluminum

/ ə-lo̅o̅′mə-nəm /

1. Symbol Al A lightweight, silvery-white metallic element that is ductile, is found chiefly in bauxite, and is a good conductor of electricity. It is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust and is used to make a wide variety of products from soda cans to airplane components. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.9815; melting point 660.3°C (1,220.5°F); boiling point 2,519°C; specific gravity 2.70; valence 3.
2. See Periodic Table

Other Word Forms

• al·u·min·ic [al-y, uh, -, min, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aluminum¹

1812; from New Latin; aluminum was an alteration, by Humphry Davy, of alumium, which was first proposed; the chiefly British variant aluminium was formed after other metals in -ium. See alumina, -ium

Example Sentences

Heal the Bay found concentrations of aluminum, iron, selenium and manganese that were higher than drinking water standards, sometimes by 10 times as much.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump paused high tariffs on other countries earlier this week, but others remain in place, including a 10% across-the-board tariff and a 25% tariff on imported steel, aluminum and vehicles.

From Salon

No metal, including aluminum and steel, or glass allowed.

From Los Angeles Times

The Trump administration already imposed tariffs on certain auto parts and imported aluminum and steel, materials that tech companies use to build data centers that store and manage computer hardware and equipment.

From Los Angeles Times

Along with gaseous reactive nitrogen, satellites burning up as they re-enter the atmosphere at the end of their lives leave tiny particles of aluminum oxide, imperilling the still-recovering ozone layer.

From Salon

Related Words

• bottle
• bucket
• canister
• jar
• package