bromine

noun bro·mine \ ˈbrō-ˌmēn \

|Updated on: 30 May 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

According to Carn, though, basaltic volcanoes don’t actually emit that much chlorine or bromine.

— emily atkin, The New Republic, "What Is Kilauea’s Impact on the Climate?," 26 May 2018
The parasite is highly resistant to pool chemicals aimed at cleaning the waters, including chlorine and bromine.

— fiza pirani, ajc, "CDC warns pools, hot tubs and water parks are hotbed for disease outbreaks," 22 May 2018
If there is a diarrheal incident, the pool operator is supposed to clear the pool and flush it with extremely high levels of chlorine or bromine to kill the parasite.

— NBC News, "Hard-to-kill germs may be lurking in your hotel pool, CDC says," 17 May 2018
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

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

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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