terbium

[ tur-bee-uhm ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth, metallic element present in certain minerals and yielding colorless salts. : Tb; : 65; : 158.924; : 8.25.

terbium

/ ˈtɜːbɪəm /

noun

1. a soft malleable silvery-grey element of the lanthanide series of metals, occurring in gadolinite and monazite and used in lasers and for doping solid-state devices. Symbol: Tb; atomic no: 65; atomic wt: 158.92534; valency: 3 or 4; relative density: 8.230; melting pt: 1356°C; boiling pt: 3230°C

terbium

/ tûr′bē-əm /

1. A soft, silvery-gray metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used in color television tubes, x-ray machines, and lasers. Atomic number 65; atomic weight 158.925; melting point 1,356°C; boiling point 3,123°C; specific gravity 8.229; valence 3, 4.
2. See Periodic Table

Derived Forms

• ˈterbic, adjective

Other Words From

• terbic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of terbium¹

1835–45; (Yt)terb(y) , name of Swedish town where found + -ium. See ytterbium

Word History and Origins

Origin of terbium¹

C19: from New Latin, named after Ytterby, Sweden, village where it was discovered

Example Sentences

Erbium, a rare metal found along with yttrium, terbium, and other rare elements in some rare minerals.

From Project Gutenberg

Terbium, ter′bi-um, n. a rare metal found in certain yttrium minerals.

From Project Gutenberg

(c.) Yttria (YO) occurs only in a few rare minerals, and usually in company with terbium and erbium.

From Project Gutenberg