zirconium

[ zur-koh-nee-uhm ]

nounChemistry.
  1. a metallic element found combined in zircon, baddeleyite, etc., resembling titanium chemically: used in steel metallurgy, as a scavenger, as a refractory, and as an opacifier in vitreous enamels. Symbol: Zr; atomic weight: 91.22; atomic number: 40; specific gravity: 6.49 at 20°C.

Origin of zirconium

1
From New Latin, dating back to 1800–10; see origin at zircon, -ium

Other words from zirconium

  • zir·con·ic [zur-kon-ik], /zɜrˈkɒn ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby zirconium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use zirconium in a sentence

  • On the one side is carbon, with below it titanium and zirconium; on the other silicon, with germanium and tin.

    Occult Chemistry | Annie Besant and Charles W. Leadbeater
  • zirconium chlorid has an astringent taste, and if fed repeatedly will cause the metallic astringent action.

    Barium, A Cause of the Loco-Weed Disease | Albert Cornelius Crawford
  • A lamp-filament of titanium and zirconium with electric lamps or with alloys?

    The Classification of Patents | United States Patent Office

British Dictionary definitions for zirconium

zirconium

/ (zɜːˈkəʊnɪəm) /


noun
  1. a greyish-white metallic element, occurring chiefly in zircon, that is exceptionally corrosion-resistant and has low neutron absorption. It is used as a coating in nuclear and chemical plants, as a deoxidizer in steel, and alloyed with niobium in superconductive magnets. Symbol: Zr; atomic no: 40; atomic wt: 91.224; valency: 2, 3, or 4; relative density: 6.506; melting pt: 1855±2°C; boiling pt: 4409°C

Origin of zirconium

1
C19: from New Latin; see zircon

Derived forms of zirconium

  • zirconic (zɜːˈkɒnɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for zirconium

zirconium

[ zûr-kōnē-əm ]


Zr
  1. A shiny, grayish-white metallic element that occurs primarily in zircon. It is used to build nuclear reactors because of its ability to withstand bombardment by neutrons even at high temperatures. Zirconium is also highly resistant to corrosion, making it a useful component of pumps, valves, and alloys. Atomic number 40; atomic weight 91.22; melting point 1,852°C; boiling point 4,377°C; specific gravity 6.56 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4. See Periodic Table.

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