tellurium

noun

tel·​lu·​ri·​um tə-ˈlu̇r-ē-əm 

te-

: a semimetallic element that occurs in a silvery-white brittle crystalline form of metallic luster, in a dark amorphous form, or combined with metals and that is used especially in alloys and catalysts see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of tellurium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Rio Tinto Kennecott website says the facility mines copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and tellurium. —USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024

The area is characterized by anomalous base and precious metals in addition to porphyry pathfinder elements such as molybdenum and tellurium, in all geological materials sampled and geophysics suggests the magnitude and geometry of a large intrusive body at depth. —Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

For tellurite glass, as its structure was reformed, seeds consisting of clusters of tellurium atoms formed, and eventually grew into tellurium nanocrystals as the glass phase decomposed. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Feb. 2024

However, glass made, in part, from the element tellurium (two down and two over from silicon on the periodic table) has a peculiar and newly-discovered property. —IEEE Spectrum, 12 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin tellur-, tellus earth

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tellurium

noun

tel·​lu·​ri·​um tə-ˈlu̇r-ē-əm 

te-

: an element that occurs in a silvery white brittle form having a metallic shine or in combination with metals and is used especially in alloys and catalysts see element

Medical Definition

tellurium

noun

tel·​lu·​ri·​um tə-ˈlu̇r-ē-əm, te- 

: a semimetallic element related to selenium and sulfur that occurs in a silvery white brittle crystalline form of metallic luster, in a dark amorphous form, or combined with metals and that is used especially in alloys

—symbol Te see Chemical Elements Table