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beryllium
noun
be·ryl·li·um
bə-ˈri-lē-əm
: 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
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
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek bēryllion
First Known Use
circa 1847, in the meaning defined above
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
: 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
: 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
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beryllium
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