tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən 

: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially in carbide materials and electrical components (such as lamp filaments) and in hardening alloys (such as steel) see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of tungsten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Manufacturing entire components from tungsten is therefore neither economical nor practical. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 4 Apr. 2026

China started restricting tungsten exports just over a year ago, and in December called for tighter limits on sulfuric acid exports. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026

Fraser and his team ended up building lighting rigs using old tungsten lights — a lot of them. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026

The pact will also help the EU secure supplies of critical raw materials including lithium and tungsten. —ABC News, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Swedish, from tung heavy + sten stone

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən 

: a gray-white heavy hard metallic element that has many characteristics similar to chromium and molybdenum and is used especially for electrical purposes and to harden metal alloys (as steel) see element

Etymology

from Swedish tungsten, literally "heavy stone," from tung "heavy" and sten "stone"

Medical Definition

tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən 

: a gray-white heavy high-melting ductile hard polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and molybdenum in many of its properties and is used especially for electrical purposes and in hardening alloys (as steel)

—symbol W

called also wolfram

see Chemical Elements Table