cadmium
Americannoun
noun
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A rare, soft, bluish-white metallic element that occurs mainly in zinc, copper, and lead ores. Cadmium is plated onto other metals and alloys to prevent corrosion, and it is used in rechargeable batteries and in nuclear control rods as a neutron absorber. Atomic number 48; atomic weight 112.41; melting point 320.9°C; boiling point 765°C; specific gravity 8.65; valence 2.
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See Periodic Table
Other Word Forms
- cadmic adjective
Etymology
Origin of cadmium
1815–25; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin cadm ( īa ) calamine (originally Cadmēa terra < Greek Kadmeía gê Cadmean earth) + -ium -ium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
They examined levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead, metals linked to iron oxides, which are the primary component of the tailings.
From Science Daily
These include heavy metals like cadmium and lead.
From Salon
Solar panels are mostly recyclable, made of glass, aluminium, silver, and polymers - but trace toxic metals like lead and cadmium can pollute soil and water if mishandled.
From BBC
A necklace sold on Shein had 8,500 times the legal limit of cadmium, a toxic metal, they found.
For Prof Krawczynski, it's not a crisis – he says he might use either CZT that he has from previous research, or cadmium telluride, an alternative, for his next mission.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
