beryllium

noun

be·​ryl·​li·​um bə-ˈri-lē-əm How to pronounce beryllium (audio)
: a chemical element of the alkaline earth metal group with atomic number 4 that occurs naturally in minerals such as beryl and is steel-gray in color, light and strong but brittle, and is used chiefly as a hardening agent in alloys see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of beryllium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The odds that any particular graviton will interact with the beryllium bar are low, but the wave will contain so many gravitons that the overall odds of at least one interaction are high. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024 The company goes on to say that Diva Utopia’s beryllium M-profile tweeters can deliver high-frequency reproduction with remarkable accuracy. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 To catch kaons in the act, the experiment sprays a hose of protons at an unmoving target of beryllium atoms. Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024 The original plan was to use beryllium, but plasma can erode it. Bydaniel Clery, science.org, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for beryllium 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek bēryllion

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beryllium was circa 1847

Dictionary Entries Near beryllium

Cite this Entry

“Beryllium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beryllium. Accessed 7 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

beryllium

noun
be·​ryl·​li·​um bə-ˈril-ē-əm How to pronounce beryllium (audio)
: a steel-gray light strong brittle toxic metallic element used chiefly to help harden alloys see element

Medical Definition

beryllium

noun
be·​ryl·​li·​um bə-ˈril-ē-əm How to pronounce beryllium (audio)
: a steel-gray light strong brittle toxic bivalent metallic element used chiefly as a hardening agent in alloys
symbol Be
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on beryllium

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!