neodymium

noun

neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdi-mē-əm How to pronounce neodymium (audio)
: 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 Is digging up enough minerals like lithium, neodymium and dysprosium to enable the electric vehicle transition worth killing 44,000 small plants growing in the middle of the Nevada desert? Danielle Chemtob, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 So in other words, using CRISPR technology to engineer bacteria or enzymes to bind directly to the neodymium and the praseodymium, pull those out of the broader solution and drop them down ready for final processing. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Dec. 2023 Manufacturers add rare-earth minerals such as neodymium and praseodymium to ensure that magnets maintain their polarity even at temperatures above 300 degrees. Andrew Zaleski, Popular Mechanics, 22 Aug. 2023 Two of these metals help speakers produce sound, neodymium and praseodymium. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 Within the lights, there are two elements that everyone is chasing, neodymium and praseodymium. IEEE Spectrum, 7 Dec. 2023 According to the report, large supply gaps are expected for metals including lithium, nickel, graphite, cobalt, neodymium, and copper as demand increases—which could touch off a major price hike and threaten the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by the year 2050. Breanne Deppisch, Washington Examiner, 20 July 2023 The standard permanent magnet used in EV motors, neodymium iron boron, has a κ of 1.54, according to this table. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2023 Available in 28- to 60-inch waist sizes, it’s made with durable webbing and an aluminum alloy buckle that snaps closed with neodymium magnets. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neodymium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

neo- + (di)dymium, after German Neodym

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neodymium was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near neodymium

Cite this Entry

“Neodymium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neodymium. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

neodymium

noun
neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdim-ē-əm How to pronounce neodymium (audio)
: a silver-white to yellow metallic chemical element see element

Medical Definition

neodymium

noun
neo·​dym·​i·​um ˌnē-ō-ˈdim-ē-əm How to pronounce neodymium (audio)
: a yellow metallic element of the rare-earth group
symbol Nd
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on neodymium

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!