calcium

American

[kal-see-uhm] / ˈkæl si əm /

noun

Chemistry, Biology.

a silver-white divalent metal, occurring combined in limestone, chalk, gypsum, etc., occurring also in vertebrates and other animals, as a component of bone, skeletal mass, shell, etc., and as a necessary element in nerve conduction, heartbeat, muscle contraction, and many other physiological functions. Ca; 40.08; 20; 1.55 at 20°C.

calcium British

/ ˈkælsɪəm /

noun

a malleable silvery-white metallic element of the alkaline earth group; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust (3.6 per cent), occurring esp as forms of calcium carbonate. It is an essential constituent of bones and teeth and is used as a deoxidizer in steel. Symbol: Ca; atomic no: 20; atomic wt: 40.078; valency: 2; relative density: 1.55; melting pt: 842±2°C; boiling pt: 1494°C

"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

calcium Scientific

/ kăl′sē-əm /

A silvery-white, moderately hard metallic element of the alkaline-earth group that occurs in limestone and gypsum. It is a basic component of leaves, bones, teeth, and shells, and is essential for the normal growth and development of most animals and plants. Calcium is used to make plaster, cement, and alloys. Atomic number 20; atomic weight 40.08; melting point 842 to 848°C; boiling point 1,487°C; specific gravity 1.55; valence 2.
See Periodic Table

Etymology

Origin of calcium

First recorded in 1800–10; calc- + -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.

In a recent study published in Polymers, researchers created a thin, flexible film using calcium caseinate, a commercially available form of casein, the primary protein found in milk.

From Science Daily

They focused on iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium, copper, and potassium.

From Science Daily

Some research suggests older non-meat eaters face a higher risk of fractures due to lower calcium and protein intake.

From Science Daily

Those nerve fibers release norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that binds to the fibroblasts and causes a spike in calcium levels inside the cells.

From Science Daily

In particular, calcium ions can be difficult to move efficiently within a battery, and maintaining stable performance over repeated charge and discharge cycles has proven challenging.

From Science Daily

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023