periodic table

noun

: an arrangement of chemical elements based on the periodic law
periodic table table

Examples of periodic table in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Rare earths include 17 metallic elements in the periodic table made up of scandium, yttrium and the lanthanides. Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2025 Just by glancing at the periodic table, every metal could, in principle, serve as a cornerstone, and countless organic molecules can act as bridges connecting them. Stavroula Alina Kampouri, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2025 Whereas Gamow had a scheme that the elements of the periodic table were forged in an early, hot, nucleosynthetic state shortly after the onset of the hot Big Bang, Hoyle claimed, correctly mind you, that the nuclear physics simply wouldn’t work out. Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 11 Sep. 2025 Supernovae can create even heavier elements, completing the periodic table of elements. Luke Keller, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for periodic table

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of periodic table was in 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Periodic table.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/periodic%20table. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

periodic table

noun
: an arrangement of chemical elements in order of atomic number that groups elements with common characteristics in the same area of the table

Medical Definition

periodic table

noun
: an arrangement of chemical elements based on the periodic law

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