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

Made from a digestible mixture of cellulose, gelatin, and molybdenum or tungsten, the capsule works as a tiny Faraday cage, blocking RF communication. —New Atlas, 28 Jan. 2026

Greenland has mineral deposits of key minerals, including graphite, copper, nickel, zinc, tungsten and lithium, all used for making modern technology. —Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

Scientists from the University of Cambridge in the UK, who took part of the study, then applied a monolayer of the semiconductor crystal tungsten disuphide just three atoms thick to the surface of the structure. —Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 21 Jan. 2026

Greenland is rich in iron ore, copper, zinc, graphite, tungsten and more. —Frank Holmes, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 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