tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən 

: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially in carbide materials and electrical components (such as lamp filaments) and in hardening alloys (such as steel) see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of tungsten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In an era when a solid set of tungsten darts is readily available on Amazon for $40, many dart players are willing to throw down $150 for a set of Black Widows. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2024

The more tungsten in a dart barrel, the smaller it can be made without sacrificing weight. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2024

Earlier this year, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy installed a tungsten diverter in its KSTAR tokamak, replacing the device’s carbon diverter. —Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 6 May 2024

Now Santos and co have done it for copper, tungsten and tantalum and further advances look eminently possible. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 24 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Swedish, from tung heavy + sten stone

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən 

: a gray-white heavy hard metallic element that has many characteristics similar to chromium and molybdenum and is used especially for electrical purposes and to harden metal alloys (as steel) see element

Etymology

from Swedish tungsten, literally "heavy stone," from tung "heavy" and sten "stone"

Medical Definition

tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən 

: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially for electrical purposes and in hardening alloys (as steel)

—symbol W

called also wolfram

see Chemical Elements Table