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 United States also depends on Canada for critical minerals, such as zinc, tellurium and nickel. — Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 15 Sep. 2026

The raw materials required, like bismuth and tellurium, are rare, expensive, and trapped in chaotic global supply chains. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 June 2026

In addition to gold and copper, the drilling found tellurium, a metal used in the production of solar cells. — Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 29 Sep. 2025

One of the study’s clear limits is that the researchers based their calculations on high future growth rates for thin-film solar panels, which depend heavily on indium, cadmium, tellurium, and tin. — Alexander C. Kaufman, The Atlantic, 11 Aug. 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