strontium

noun

stron·​tium ˈsträn(t)-sh(ē-)əm  ˈsträn-tē-əm 

: a soft malleable ductile metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination and used especially in color TV tubes, in crimson fireworks, and in the production of some ferrites see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of strontium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Beyond carbon dating, certain samples also undergo strontium isotope analysis, a means of measuring neutron variation within the same element to determine where that element originated. —Jacqueline Kehoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Dec. 2024

Whether its lead from old buildings, arsenic from contaminated food or strontium fallout from a nuclear explosion, heavy metals that enter the body pose a serious health threat. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024

The team used the same strontium isotopes that were used to date the DNA samples to get a better understanding of the diversity and origins of Pompeii’s residents. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 7 Nov. 2024

That makes its states easier to manipulate and easier to measure compared to strontium’s more complicated atomic structure. —Paul Smith-Goodson, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from strontia strontium oxide, from obsolete English strontian, from Strontian, village in Scotland

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

strontium

noun

stron·​tium ˈsträn-ch(ē-)əm 

ˈstränt-ē-əm

: a soft metallic element that can be hammered and shaped, occurs only in combination, and is used in color TV picture tubes and red fireworks see element

Medical Definition

strontium

noun

stron·​tium ˈsträn-ch(ē-)əm  ˈstränt-ē-əm 

: a soft malleable ductile bivalent metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination

—symbol Sr see Chemical Elements Table