aluminum

noun, often attributive alu·mi·num \ ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of aluminum

: a bluish silver-white light malleable ductile 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 it always occurs in combination — see Chemical Elements Table

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Recent Examples of aluminum from the Web

Combined with aluminum for the doors, hood and tailgate box, the 2019 Sierra will be up to 360 pounds lighter than the current Sierra.

— jeff yip, Houston Chronicle, "GMC hatches next-gen 2019 half-ton, offers off-road version, carbon-fiber bed," 7 Apr. 2018
The back-and-forth between the two economic powerhouses started last month, when the Trump administration moved to tax steel and aluminum from China and other countries.

— sydney greene, star-telegram, "Texas cattle ranchers uneasy over proposed Chinese tariffs on beef | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 5 Apr. 2018
Will history repeat itself as Trump puts a tariff on steel and aluminum?

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Sen. Mitch McConnell calls Trump's tariffs a 'slippery slope' that would hurt Kentucky," 3 Apr. 2018
Weeks after President Trump announced steep tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum imports, China is striking back.

— benjamin hart, Daily Intelligencer, "China Announces Retaliatory Tariffs on American Goods," 1 Apr. 2018
Acid soils help ensure the availability of aluminum for hydrangea plants to use in maintaining the blue color.

— tom maccubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "It's all about timing when growing cucumbers," 31 Mar. 2018
Texas factories cut production growth by more than half this month as local executives warned that the Trump administration’s steel and aluminum tariffs will hike costs and squeeze profits this year.

— collin eaton, San Antonio Express-News, "Texas factory index declines," 27 Mar. 2018
And Chinese steel and aluminum are already covered by numerous import tariffs.

— david dayen, The New Republic, "Trump’s Theater of Trade," 27 Mar. 2018
The country is the largest source of both steel and aluminum for the United States, and many companies have operations stretching across its border.

— ana swanson, New York Times, "Trump Prepares to Formalize Tariffs but Floats Exemptions," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'aluminum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of aluminum

New Latin, from alumina

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1810

See Words from the same year

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

ALUMINUM Defined for English Language Learners

aluminum

noun

Definition of aluminum for English Language Learners

: a silver metal that is strong and light and that is used for making many products

ALUMINUM Defined for Kids

aluminum

noun alu·mi·num \ ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm \

Definition of aluminum for Students

: a silver-white light metallic chemical element that is easily worked, conducts electricity well, resists weathering, and is the most plentiful metal in the earth's crust

Medical Dictionary

aluminum

noun, often attributive alu·mi·num \ ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm \

medical Definition of aluminum

: a bluish silver-white malleable ductile 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 it always occurs in combination —symbol Al — see Chemical Elements Table

Learn More about aluminum

Spanish Central: Translation of aluminum Nglish: Translation of aluminum for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of aluminum for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about aluminum

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aluminum

Definition of aluminum

Recent Examples of aluminum from the Web

Origin and Etymology of aluminum

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

ALUMINUM Defined for English Language Learners

aluminum

Definition of aluminum for English Language Learners

ALUMINUM Defined for Kids

aluminum

Definition of aluminum for Students

Medical Dictionary

aluminum

medical Definition of aluminum

Learn More about aluminum

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aluminum

Definition of aluminum

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aluminum

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aluminum

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