aluminum definition | Dictionary.com

a⋅lu⋅mi⋅num

[uh-loo-muh-nuh

–noun

Chemistry. a silver-white metallic element, light in weight, ductile, malleable, and not readily corroded or tarnished, occurring combined in nature in igneous rock, shale, clay, and most soil: used in alloys and for lightweight utensils, castings, airplane parts, etc. Abbreviation: alum.; Symbol: Al; atomic weight: 26.98; atomic number: 13; specific gravity: 2.70 at 20°C.

–adjective

2.	of, pertaining to, or containing aluminum: an aluminum frying pan.

Also, especially British, aluminium.

Origin:
1812; < NL, alter., by Humphry Davy, of alumium, which was first proposed; aluminium formed after other metals in -ium. See alumina, -ium

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
Cite This Source

Language Translation for : aluminum

Spanish:

aluminio,

German:

das Aluminium; Aluminium-…,

Japanese:

アルミニウム

View 29 other languages »

Sponsored Links Steel Plate and Sheets
Cut to Length Thin Gage to Thick Plate
www.GetSteel.com

Los Angeles Aluminum
We offer local search in your area. Find Los Angeles Aluminum Here!
LosAngeles.Local.com

Aluminum
Call 877-952-6226 For Aluminum Bars Rods, Sheets, etc In Downtown LA!
www.BobcoMetal.com/Aluminum

a·lu·mi·num (ə-lōō'mə-nəm) Pronunciation Key
n. Symbol Al
A silvery-white, ductile metallic element, the most abundant in the earth's crust but found only in combination, chiefly in bauxite. Having good conductive and thermal properties, it is used to form many hard, light, corrosion-resistant alloys. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.98; melting point 660.2°C; boiling point 2,467°C; specific gravity 2.69; valence 3. See Table at element.

[alumin(a) + -(i)um.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

aluminum

1812, coined by Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829), from L. alumen "alum" (see alum). Davy originally called it alumium (1808), then amended this to aluminum, which remains the U.S. word, but British editors in 1812 further amended it to aluminium, the modern preferred British form, to better harmonize with other element names (sodium, potassium, etc.).

"Aluminium, for so we shall take the liberty of writing the word, in preference to aluminum, which has a less classical sound." ["Quarterly Review," 1812]

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source

aluminum
noun
a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
Cite This Source

aluminum (ə-l

'mə-nəm) Pronunciation Key

Symbol Al A lightweight, silvery-white metallic element that is ductile, is found chiefly in bauxite, and is a good conductor of electricity. It is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust and is used to make a wide variety of products from soda cans to airplane components. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.98; melting point 660.2°C (1,220.36°F); boiling point 2,467°C; specific gravity 2.69; valence 3. See Periodic Table.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

aluminum a·lu·mi·num (ə-l&oomacr;'mə-nəm)
n.
Symbol Al
A silvery-white, ductile metallic element, found chiefly in bauxite. A good conductor, it is used in light, corrosion-resistant alloys. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.98; melting point 660.3°C; boiling point 2,519°C; specific gravity 2.70; valence 3.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source

Main Entry: alu·mi·num
Pronunciation: &-'lü-m&-n&m
Function: noun
often attributive : a bluish silver-white malleableductile light trivalent metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust where italways occurs in combination —symbol Al; —see ELEMENT table

Aluminum

A*lu"mi*num\ ([.a]*l[=u]*m[i^]*n[u^]m), n. See Aluminium.