neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdi-mē-əm 

: a silver-white to yellow metallic element of the rare-earth group that is used especially in magnets and lasers see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of neodymium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

So its thicker plywood inserts have neodymium magnets embedded into them to align the side panels when the chair is deployed. —New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025

Rare-earth compounds take on a variety of colors, as shown with these oxides of (clockwise from top center): praseodymium, cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, samarium and gadolinium. —IEEE Spectrum, 7 Mar. 2025

Copper may be even more crucial to the nation's shift toward a greener, more efficient economy than rare elements like neodymium or praseodymium. —Scott Neuman, NPR, 16 Mar. 2025

Chan says the neodymium ions are where the optical magic happens. —IEEE Spectrum, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

neo- + (di)dymium, after German Neodym

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neodymium

• praseodymium

Kids Definition

neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdim-ē-əm 

: a silver-white to yellow metallic chemical element see element

Medical Definition

neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdim-ē-əm 

: a yellow metallic element of the rare-earth group

—symbol Nd see Chemical Elements Table