coltan

noun

col·tan ˈkōl-ˌtan

: a dull black ore that consists of a mixture of columbite and tantalite and is a minor source of tantalum

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary columbo-tantalite, from columbite + -o- + tantalite

First Known Use

1999, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of coltan was in 1999

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Coltan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coltan. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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