calcium

noun

cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm 

often attributive

: a metallic chemical element of the alkaline-earth group that occurs naturally only in combination and is essential to cellular functions in all known organisms see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of calcium in a Sentence

Her doctor said she should eat more foods that are high in calcium, such as milk and cheese.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sea salt is generally less processed and can contain trace amounts of minerals such as potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium, according to Harvard Health. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

The ones humans rely on are sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium and phosphate. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026

Adequate calcium intake supports healthy bones and teeth, nerve signaling, and muscle function. — Lauren Panoff, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2026

Dolostone is related to limestone, and can form as groundwater rich in magnesium passes through limestone or lime mud and replaces the calcium ions in the limestone with magnesium, the department explained. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin calc-, calx lime

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing calcium

• calcium carbide
• calcium carbonate
• calcium channel blocker
• calcium chloride
• calcium citrate
• calcium cyanamide
• calcium gluconate
• calcium hydroxide
• calcium hypochlorite
• calcium oxalate
• calcium oxide
• calcium phosphate
• calcium silicate
• calcium sulfate

Rhymes for calcium

• dicalcium
• tricalcium

Kids Definition

calcium

noun

cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm 

: a silver-white soft metallic element that is found only in combination with other elements (as in limestone) and is one of the necessary elements making up the bodies of most plants and animals see element

Etymology

derived from Latin calc-, calx "lime" — related to calculate, chalk

Medical Definition

calcium

noun

cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm 

often attributive

: a silver-white bivalent metallic element that is an alkaline earth metal, occurs only in combination, and is an essential constituent of most plants and animals

—symbol Ca see Chemical Elements Table