cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a toxic bluish-white malleable ductile divalent metallic element used especially in batteries, pigments, and protective platings see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of cadmium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key Takeaways Many of the dark chocolate products tested in a new study contain lead and cadmium, with some organic products showing higher contamination levels. —Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2024

Even organic versions of the treat are contaminated by the neurotoxic metals lead and cadmium, a study finds. —Meghan Pryce, CNN, 1 Aug. 2024

The team tested the tampons for 16 heavy metals: arsenic, barium, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, strontium, vanadium and zinc. —Theara Coleman, theweek, 16 July 2024

But cadmium is only in a tiny share of panels on the market, and the solar industry uses a form of cadmium that is safer than the form that fuels the scare stories. —Dan Gearino, WIRED, 29 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin cadmia zinc oxide, from Greek kadmeia, literally, Theban (earth), from feminine of kadmeios Theban, from Kadmos; from the occurrence of its ores together with zinc oxide

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cadmium

• cadmium sulfide
• cadmium telluride

Kids Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white metallic element used especially in protective coatings see element

Medical Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element used especially in protective platings and in bearing metals

—symbol Cd see Chemical Elements Table