antimony

an·ti·mo·ny

noun \ˈan-tə-ˌmō-nē\

Definition of ANTIMONY

1

: stibnite

2

: a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element that is commonly metallic silvery white, crystalline, and brittle and that is used especially in alloys, semiconductors, and flame-retardant substances — see element table

Origin of ANTIMONY

Middle English antimonie, from Medieval Latin antimonium

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with ANTIMONY

abalone, acrimony, agrimony, Albinoni, alimony, Berlusconi, cannelloni, ceremony, chalcedony, cicerone, hegemony, macaroni, matrimony, minestrone, Nakasone, one-trick pony, palimony, parsimony, patrimony, pepperoni, provolone, rigatoni, sanctimony, Shetland pony, testimony, zabaglione

an·ti·mo·ny

noun \ˈant-ə-ˌmō-nē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; an·ti·mo·nies

Medical Definition of ANTIMONY

: a trivalent and pentavalent metalloid element that is commonly metallic silvery white, crystalline, and brittle and is used especially in alloys and semiconductors and in medicine as a constituent of various antiprotozoal agents (as tartar emetic)—symbol Sb; see element table

antimony

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Semimetallic to metallic chemical element (see metal), chemical symbol Sb, atomic number 51. Of its various allotropes, the most common is a lustrous, bluish, brittle, flaky solid. In nature antimony occurs chiefly as the gray sulfide mineral stibnite, SbS. Pure antimony metal has no important uses, but its alloys and compounds are extremely useful. Some antimony alloys have the rare quality of expanding on solidifying; these are used for castings and for type metal. Alloys with lead are used in car batteries, bullets, and cable sheaths. Antifriction alloys with tin and lead (babbitt metals) are used as components of machine bearings. Antimony compounds (valences 3, 4, and 5) are widely used as flame retardants in paints, plastics, rubber, and textiles; others are used as paint pigments.