magnesium

play

noun mag·ne·sium \ mag-ˈnē-zē-əm , -zhəm \

Definition of magnesium

:a silver-white malleable ductile light metallic element that occurs abundantly in nature and is used in metallurgical and chemical processes, in photography, signaling, and pyrotechnics because of the intense white light it produces on burning, and in construction especially in the form of light alloys — see Chemical Elements Table

See magnesium defined for English-language learners

See magnesium defined for kids

Recent Examples of magnesium 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
Studies show their magnesium content reduces migraine frequency.

— helen zook, Cosmopolitan, "12 Easy Food Fixes for Every Health Issue," 13 Aug. 2017
They're packed with protein and Omega 3s, including iron, B-1, B-12, phosphorus and magnesium.

— doreen christensen, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Free Boosted Bagel Sandwich at Einstein Bros.," 19 July 2017
Salma Hayek recently told a group of editors about how magnesium makes her sleep and [whistle].

— kathleen hou, The Cut, "The French Laxative That My Most Constipated Friends Swear By," 19 July 2017
Cycle-syncing your diet as part of the FLO protocol and taking probiotics, B vitamins and magnesium, among others, to replace what was massively depleted by synthetic hormones is a must-do baseline for a successful transition.

— stefanie jesney, Harper's BAZAAR, "Are Cannabis Capsules the Answer to Fixing Bad Period Cramps?," 23 June 2017
The best sources of magnesium are green leafy vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, fish, and whole grains.

— angel biasatti, star-telegram.com, "Staying energized all day long, the healthy way," 20 June 2017
Coconut milk naturally contains high amounts of immune-boosting vitamin C and E, antioxidants and minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, and potassium.

— theresa shank, rr, ldn, Philly.com, "Soy, almond, coconut: Which milk alternative is right for you?," 20 June 2017
Almond flour is a very good source of vitamin E and also contains iron, manganese, magnesium and copper.

— by sheah rarback, miamiherald, "Gluten issues? Try peanut, almond, coconut — or even coffee flour.," 12 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of magnesium

New Latin, from magnesia

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1812

See Words from the same year

MAGNESIUM Defined for English Language Learners

magnesium

play

noun

Definition of magnesium for English Language Learners

: a silver-white metallic element that produces a very bright white light when it burns

MAGNESIUM Defined for Kids

magnesium

play

noun mag·ne·sium \ mag-ˈnē-zē-əm , -ˈnē-zhəm \

Definition of magnesium for Students

:a silvery white metallic chemical element that is lighter than aluminum and is used in lightweight alloys

Medical Dictionary

magnesium

play

noun mag·ne·sium \ mag-ˈnē-zē-əm , -zhəm \

medical Definition of magnesium

:a silver-white light malleable ductile metallic element that occurs abundantly in nature (as in bones and seeds and in the form of chlorophyll in the green parts of plants) and is used in metallurgical and chemical processes, in photography, in signaling, and in the manufacture of pyrotechnics because of the intense white light it produces on burning, and in construction especially in the form of light alloys —symbol Mg — see Chemical Elements Table

Learn More about magnesium

See words that rhyme with magnesium Spanish Central: Translation of magnesium Nglish: Translation of magnesium for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about magnesium

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up magnesium? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

magnesium

Definition of magnesium

Recent Examples of magnesium from the Web

Origin and Etymology of magnesium

MAGNESIUM Defined for English Language Learners

magnesium

Definition of magnesium for English Language Learners

MAGNESIUM Defined for Kids

magnesium

Definition of magnesium for Students

Medical Dictionary

magnesium

medical Definition of magnesium

Learn More about magnesium

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

shofar

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Silent Letters

'So Long': A Common But Mysterious Goodbye

"Immune to" or "Immune from"?

Ask the Editors

Words of the Year: 1066

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Irregardless

Weird Plurals

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Challenging Vocabulary Quiz Returns!

Spell It

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

Words of the Year: 1066

magnesium

Definition of magnesium

Explore M-W

Recent Examples of magnesium from the Web

Origin and Etymology of magnesium

MAGNESIUM Defined for English Language Learners

magnesium

Definition of magnesium for English Language Learners

MAGNESIUM Defined for Kids

magnesium

Definition of magnesium for Students

Medical Dictionary

magnesium

medical Definition of magnesium

Learn More about magnesium

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

The Ambiguity of Pushing 'Up' and 'Back'

Trending: Ivanka: "An 'Otherwise' Incredible Day"

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes

Words of the Year: 1066