tellurium

noun

tel·​lu·​ri·​um tə-ˈlu̇r-ē-əm 

te-

: a semimetallic element that occurs in a silvery-white brittle crystalline form of metallic luster, in a dark amorphous form, or combined with metals and that is used especially in alloys and catalysts see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of tellurium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Fudan team fabricated prototype retinal implants using a mesh of tellurium nanowires. —ArsTechnica, 12 June 2025

Chinese state newspaper the Global Times also announced export controls on items related to tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025

Those include tungsten, a critical mineral typically used in industrial and defense applications, as well as tellurium, which can be used to make solar cells. —Simone McCarthy, CNN, 4 Feb. 2025

In a separate statement Tuesday, Chinese commerce ministry and customs officials announced to impose export controls on items related to tungsten, tellurium, ruthenium, molybdenum and ruthenium. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin tellur-, tellus earth

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tellurium

• curium

Kids Definition

tellurium

noun

tel·​lu·​ri·​um tə-ˈlu̇r-ē-əm 

te-

: an element that occurs in a silvery white brittle form having a metallic shine or in combination with metals and is used especially in alloys and catalysts see element

Medical Definition

tellurium

noun

tel·​lu·​ri·​um tə-ˈlu̇r-ē-əm, te- 

: a semimetallic element related to selenium and sulfur that occurs in a silvery white brittle crystalline form of metallic luster, in a dark amorphous form, or combined with metals and that is used especially in alloys

—symbol Te see Chemical Elements Table