germanium

ger·ma·ni·um

noun \(ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm\

Definition of GERMANIUM

: a grayish-white hard brittle metalloid element that resembles silicon and is used especially in optical and semiconductor materials and as a catalyst — see element table

Origin of GERMANIUM

New Latin, from Medieval Latin Germania Germany

First Known Use: 1886

Rhymes with GERMANIUM

geranium, titanium, uranium

ger·ma·ni·um

noun \(ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of GERMANIUM

: a grayish white hard brittle metalloid element that resembles silicon and is used as a semiconductor—symbol Ge; see element table

germanium

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Semimetallic chemical element, chemical symbol Ge, atomic number 32. Germanium, which resembles silicon in its physical properties, is used especially in semiconductor devices. Discovered in 1886, it became economically significant after 1945 and remains of primary importance in the manufacture of transistors and of components for other devices such as rectifiers (see diode) and photocells. It is also used as a component of alloys, in phosphors for fluorescent lamps, and in the glasses of certain optical components, such as camera and microscope lenses.