bromine

noun bro·mine \ ˈbrō-ˌmēn \

Updated on: 22 Mar 2018

Definition of bromine

: a nonmetallic halogen element that is isolated as a deep red corrosive toxic volatile liquid of disagreeable odor — see Chemical Elements Table

See bromine defined for kids

Recent Examples of bromine from the Web

In a Serenity whirlpool spa, the analyzer that measures bromine and pH levels was malfunctioning and had to be recalibrated.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "Another Carnival cruise was caught with dirty conditions. That makes four in two months.," 25 Jan. 2018
Inspectors found the levels of bromine, which kills bacteria in the water, in the Cloud 9 spa hot tubs to be too low.

— chabeli herrera, miamiherald, "Another Carnival cruise was caught with dirty conditions. That makes four in two months.," 25 Jan. 2018
Warmer-than-usual weather conditions in the stratosphere are to thank for the shrinkage since 2016, as the warmer air helped fend off chemicals like chlorine and bromine that eat away at the ozone layer, scientists said.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "The Earth's ozone hole is shrinking and is the smallest it has been since 1988," 3 Nov. 2017
That led to stormy conditions in the stratosphere that prevented some of the atmospheric chlorine and bromine that reacts with and destroys the ozone from reaching the molecules.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "The Ozone Hole Is the Smallest It’s Been in 30 Years—But We Can’t Take Credit," 3 Nov. 2017
Paul Newman, chief Earth scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said stormy conditions in the upper atmosphere warmed the air and kept chemicals chlorine and bromine from eating ozone.

— seth borenstein, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Earth's ozone hole shrivels to smallest since 1988," 3 Nov. 2017
Nature’s versions are forged in volcanoes or near deep-sea vents where temperatures run high, and chlorine and bromine are abundant.

— rebecca altman, The Atlantic, "How the Benzene Tree Polluted the World," 4 Oct. 2017
In the early 1970s, PCBs were replaced by other organohalogens, one being polybrominated biphenyls, or PBBs, molecules similar to PCBs, but made with bromine instead of chlorine.

— rebecca altman, The Atlantic, "How the Benzene Tree Polluted the World," 4 Oct. 2017
The chemicals at issue contain either bromine or chlorine — halogens that at high levels take the place of oxygen and slow the combustive reaction that creates and spreads fire.

— michael hawthorne, chicagotribune.com, "Will federal safety panel ban toxic flame retardants in household products?," 20 Sep. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of bromine

French brome bromine + English ²-ine

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1827

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BROMINE Defined for Kids

bromine

noun bro·mine \ ˈbrō-ˌmēn \

Definition of bromine for Students

: a chemical element that is a deep red liquid giving off an irritating smelly vapor

Medical Dictionary

bromine

noun bro·mine \ ˈbrō-ˌmēn \

medical Definition of bromine

: a nonmetallic halogen element that is isolated as a deep red corrosive toxic fuming liquid of disagreeable odor —symbol Br — see Chemical Elements Table