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
In Utah, a mine has begun producing tellurium.
—
Dionne Searcey Arin Yoon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
Even tellurium itself is a kind of mirage.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022
Another close call is tellurium, which is used in industrial solar farms and where there may be only slightly more estimated resources than what would be required in a big green push.
—Seth Borenstein, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Jan. 2023
Four of the elements are named after planets (Earth – in the form of tellurium, Mercury, Neptune and Uranus).
—Mark Lorch, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016
Some examples include cobalt, indium, tellurium and dysprosium; the only way to mine them is to purify them during the refinement of other elements.
—Xiaozhi Lim, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2020
Already Utah is the only U.S. source of beryllium and could soon support important sources of helium, lithium and tellurium.
—Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Nov. 2022
And earlier this year the company started separating and selling tellurium, an element that is useful in making solar panels.
—Tim Fitzpatrick, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Sep. 2022
See More
Dionne Searcey Arin Yoon, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2023
Even tellurium itself is a kind of mirage.
—Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022
Another close call is tellurium, which is used in industrial solar farms and where there may be only slightly more estimated resources than what would be required in a big green push.
—Seth Borenstein, BostonGlobe.com, 27 Jan. 2023
Four of the elements are named after planets (Earth – in the form of tellurium, Mercury, Neptune and Uranus).
—Mark Lorch, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016
Some examples include cobalt, indium, tellurium and dysprosium; the only way to mine them is to purify them during the refinement of other elements.
—Xiaozhi Lim, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2020
Already Utah is the only U.S. source of beryllium and could soon support important sources of helium, lithium and tellurium.
—Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 Nov. 2022
And earlier this year the company started separating and selling tellurium, an element that is useful in making solar panels.
—Tim Fitzpatrick, The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Sep. 2022
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tellurium.' 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
New Latin, from Latin tellur-, tellus earth
First Known Use
1800, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tellurium
Cite this Entry
“Tellurium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tellurium. Accessed 24 Sep. 2023.
Copy Citation
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
More from Merriam-Webster on tellurium
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tellurium
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share