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niobium
noun
ni·o·bi·um
nī-ˈō-bē-əm
: a lustrous light gray ductile metallic element that resembles tantalum chemically and is used in alloys see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of niobium in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Velasquez, a geological researcher at the Universidad de Chile explains that his research aims to understand how niobium is transported on a geological scale and how it is deposited in the Earth's crust, which is key to knowing where to look for it now.
—Andrew Wight, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024
New alloys More recent introductions are alloys such as those using titanium and particularly niobium, which increase strength by stabilizing a metal’s microstructure.
—John Johnson Jr., Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Aug. 2024
Rwanda also earns sizable sums exporting tin, tantalum, and niobium—much of it also mined in Congo, according to a UN expert group and Global Witness.
—Jason K. Stearns, Foreign Affairs, 26 July 2024
The ore contains the rare transition metal niobium, which is used in steel production and becomes a superconductor when cooled to low temperatures.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Latin Niobe; from its occurrence in tantalite
First Known Use
1845, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near niobium
Cite this Entry
“Niobium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/niobium. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
niobium
noun
ni·o·bi·um
nī-ˈō-bē-əm
: a shiny gray metallic element used in alloys see element
Medical Definition
niobium
noun
ni·o·bi·um
nī-ˈō-bē-əm
: a lustrous light gray ductile metallic element that resembles tantalum chemically and is used in alloys
—symbol Nb
called also columbium
see Chemical Elements TableMore from Merriam-Webster on niobium
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about niobium
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