curium

[ kyoor-ee-uhm ]

noun

1. a radioactive element not found in nature but discovered in 1944 among the products of plutonium after bombardment by high-energy helium ions. : Cm; : 96.

curium

/ ˈkjʊərɪəm /

noun

1. a silvery-white metallic transuranic element artificially produced from plutonium. Symbol: Cm; atomic no: 96; half-life of most stable isotope, ²⁴⁷Cm: 1.6 x 10 ⁷years; valency: 3 and 4; relative density: 13.51 (calculated); melting pt: 1345±400°C

curium

/ kyr′ē-əm /

1. A synthetic, silvery-white, radioactive metallic element of the actinide series that is produced artificially from plutonium or americium. Curium isotopes are used to provide electricity for satellites and space probes. Its most stable isotope has a half-life of 16.4 million years. Atomic number 96; melting point (estimated) 1,350°C; valence 3.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of curium¹

1946; < New Latin; named after M. and P. Curie; -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of curium¹

C20: New Latin, named after Pierre and Marie Curie

Example Sentences

As a second alternative, the court can quickly issue a per curium—“by the court” —opinion affirming the D.C.

From Slate

Per curium opinions reflect what is at least the majority view without an extensive, and thus time-consuming, underlying legal analysis, while allowing similarly minimalist dissents or concurring opinions to be filed.

From Slate

Added to this was the challenge of procuring radioactive curium-244, an alpha particle source that is central to APXS—and that Vadawale notes is “available only from Russia.”

From Scientific American

There are already two different drug injections that can be used to treat people who have been exposed to radioactive plutonium, americium or curium.

From BBC

The court’s one-page per curium order was followed by five separate concurring opinions and four separate dissents—totaling more than 200 pages altogether.

From Slate