calcium

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noun, often attributive cal·ci·um \ ˈkal-sē-əm \

Definition of calcium

:a silver-white divalent metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination — see Chemical Elements Table

See calcium defined for English-language learners

See calcium defined for kids

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 of calcium from the Web

Water balance throughout the body is maintained by electrolytes (sodium in salt, calcium, potassium, magnesium, etc.)

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "It's not just athletes that need to hydrate. Why the 'Average Joe' needs to up his water intake," 24 Aug. 2017
Into a vast pot of warm water goes cal — food-grade calcium hydroxide, the modern equivalent of the slaked lime the Mayans extracted while building their limestone temples.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "It’s Called Factory Tamal, but the Food Is Strictly Handmade," 17 Aug. 2017
Common ingredients include stain removers (such as sodium tripolyphosphateor hexametaphosphate and hydrated silica) and bleach, often listed as calcium peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.

— joanne chen, Redbook, "Teeth: An Owner's Manual," 24 July 2017
BER occurs as a result of calcium deficiency within the plant.

— jefferson county cooperative extension, AL.com, "Blossom end rot (Garden Talk)," 19 July 2017
Fibercon (calcium polycarbophil) – Provides 4 grams soluble fiber when taking two capsules four times daily.

— trihealth, Cincinnati.com, "Why health experts emphasize fiber," 17 July 2017
The most common medications involved were cardiovascular drugs such as beta blockers, calcium antagonists and clonidine; pain medications, including opioids and acetaminophen; and hormonal medications, including insulin.

— rachel rettner, Washington Post, "A growing number of people make mistakes when they take their medication," 16 July 2017
The recall disclosed Tuesday covers inflators using calcium sulfate as a desiccant.

— ryan beene, Bloomberg.com, "Takata Recalls 2.7 Million Air Bags That Have Drying Agent," 11 July 2017
The latest recall is the first involving the inflaters that use calcium sulfate as a drying agent.

— micah maidenberg, New York Times, "Takata Expands Recall Again, Citing New Airbag Hazard," 11 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of calcium

New Latin, from Latin calc-, calx lime

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1808

See Words from the same year

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

CALCIUM Defined for English Language Learners

calcium

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noun

Definition of calcium for English Language Learners

: a substance that is found in most plants and animals and that is especially important in people for strong healthy bones

CALCIUM Defined for Kids

calcium

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noun cal·ci·um \ ˈkal-sē-əm \

Definition of calcium for Students

:a silvery soft metallic chemical element that is essential for strong healthy bones

Medical Dictionary

calcium

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noun, often attributive cal·ci·um \ ˈkal-sē-əm \

medical Definition of calcium

: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