yttrium

noun

yt·​tri·​um ˈi-trē-əm How to pronounce yttrium (audio)
: a metallic element with atomic number 39 usually included in the rare-earth group that occurs usually with other rare earth elements in minerals and is used especially in phosphors, YAG lasers, alloys, and treatments for certain cancers see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of yttrium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Clinicians experimented with different radioactive payloads under compassionate-use protocols that allow seriously ill patients to have access to experimental treatments, using unstable forms of elements like yttrium and indium before largely coalescing around an isotope of lutetium. Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024 The aquatic plant contains the elements platinum and rhodium, along with rare-earth elements like neodymium, lanthanum, yttrium and dysprosium. Devika Rao, theweek, 22 May 2024 The tape is made up of yttrium barium copper oxide deposited on a steel substrate. IEEE Spectrum, 15 July 2023 These new materials, such as the ceramic known as yttrium barium copper oxide, became a superconductor at 93 Kelvin—still cold, but not absolute-zero cold. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 15 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for yttrium 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from yttria yttrium oxide (Y2O3), irregular from Ytterby, town in southern Sweden

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yttrium was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near yttrium

Cite this Entry

“Yttrium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yttrium. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

yttrium

noun
yt·​tri·​um ˈi-trē-əm How to pronounce yttrium (audio)
: a metallic element that occurs in minerals along with other similar uncommon elements see element

Medical Definition

yttrium

noun
yt·​tri·​um ˈi-trē-əm How to pronounce yttrium (audio)
: a trivalent metallic element usually included among the rare earth elements which it resembles chemically and with which it occurs in minerals
symbol Y
see Chemical Elements Table

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