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 Words From

• 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

It’s super durable with raised sides protect the screen and an aluminum button.

From Popular-Science

Toyota's system uses an extremely beefy aluminum extrusion cage that covers the entire ceiling of the test house.

From Ars Technica

BPA-free plastic, stainless steel and aluminum construction afford this unit both durability and longevity.

From Popular-Science

For starters, the 5 features a 100% recycled aluminum body, whereas the 4a 5G is polycarbonate.

From TechCrunch

The aluminum legs support a lot of weight, and the top is easy to clean.

From Outside Online

New refinements in aluminum made structures both stronger and lighter.

From The Daily Beast

According to police, Kory then attacked the victim with an aluminum tennis racket.

From The Daily Beast

I glimpse an alarming, finger-length aluminum baton in her bag.

From The Daily Beast

In 2012, Li allegedly supplied the Iranians with 20,000 kilos of steel pipe and 1,300 aluminum alloy tubes.

From The Daily Beast

It is one of the only times I can think of when life imitates art to the very bleeding edge of an aluminum shank.

From The Daily Beast

When partially exhausted the aluminum shutters are dipped into a bath of shellac.

From Project Gutenberg

On a hunch I dropped in an aluminum alkyl, and then pushed the polymerization along with both ultraviolet and heat.

From Project Gutenberg

These experiments did show, however, that the tablets contained an amount of aluminum corresponding to over 25 per cent.

From Project Gutenberg

It was enough, with some aluminum above the amount needed for the wire.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the year one hundred and fifty-two when they smelted the aluminum.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bottle
• bucket
• canister
• jar
• package