thorium
noun
tho·ri·um
ˈthȯr-ē-əm 
: a radioactive metallic element that is obtained especially from monazite and is usually associated with rare earths see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of thorium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In May Schumm’s team shipped the thorium crystals to the Boulder lab running the ultracold strontium clock.
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Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2024
By 2003, scientists were proposing that because thorium required less energy to excite its nucleus than most other types of atoms did, the isotope thorium-229 would be a good candidate for nuclear clocks, according to the study.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 10 Sep. 2024
The new array also allowed physicists to observe a thorium nucleus’ shape in groundbreaking detail, which the team compares to being able to view individual blades of grass from inside an airplane.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Sep. 2024
Back in April, researchers at JILA finally managed to figure out the exact value of that energy difference, and then actively switched thorium nuclei between them for the first time.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorium 
Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2024
By 2003, scientists were proposing that because thorium required less energy to excite its nucleus than most other types of atoms did, the isotope thorium-229 would be a good candidate for nuclear clocks, according to the study.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN, 10 Sep. 2024
The new array also allowed physicists to observe a thorium nucleus’ shape in groundbreaking detail, which the team compares to being able to view individual blades of grass from inside an airplane.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 5 Sep. 2024
Back in April, researchers at JILA finally managed to figure out the exact value of that energy difference, and then actively switched thorium nuclei between them for the first time.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for thorium
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“Thorium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thorium. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
thorium
noun
tho·ri·um
ˈthōr-ē-əm
ˈthȯr-
: a radioactive metallic element see element
Medical Definition
thorium
noun
tho·ri·um
ˈthōr-ē-əm, ˈthȯr-
: a radioactive metallic element that occurs combined in minerals and is usually associated with rare earths
—symbol Th
see Chemical Elements Table
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