ruthenium

noun

ru·​the·​ni·​um rü-ˈthē-nē-əm 

: a rare hard silvery-white metallic element occurring in platinum ores and used especially as a catalyst and to harden alloys see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of ruthenium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The discovery of this ruthenium, which was formed and locked down with gold, might be a telling sign that these volcanic rocks are coming from deep within the Earth. —Nick Butler, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2025

Compared with the mantle, the team explains, Earth's core has a greater abundance of one particular ruthenium isotope: 100Ru. —Ian Randall, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 May 2025

The team recently detected trace amounts of the precious metal ruthenium while analyzing volcanic rock samples collected across the islands of Hawai’i. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 22 May 2025

The solution was, basically, to etch a deep, narrow trench between the transistor fins and then fill it with ruthenium. —IEEE Spectrum, 26 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin Ruthenia Ruthenia

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ruthenium

• asplenium
• delphinium
• perineum
• proscenium
• selenium
• vaccinium
• rhenium

Kids Definition

ruthenium

noun

ru·​the·​ni·​um rü-ˈthē-nē-əm 

: a hard brittle grayish rare metallic element used especially in alloys and catalysts see element

Medical Definition

ruthenium

noun

ru·​the·​ni·​um rü-ˈthē-nē-əm 

: a hard brittle grayish polyvalent rare metallic element occurring in platinum ores and used in hardening platinum alloys

—symbol Ru see Chemical Elements Table