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

The majority of public comments on the U.S. tungsten tariffs supported the duties, noting benefits for domestic manufacturing. —Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 28 Nov. 2024

Some of the most notable include graphite, copper, nickel, zinc, tungsten and lithium – essential industrial minerals for making modern technologies. —Carlie Procell, USA Today, 2 May 2025

That means materials like tungsten to make the projectiles more lethal as well as advanced sensors and guidance systems that can react in real time. —New Atlas, 23 Apr. 2025

Metal options Most wedding bands are made of platinum, gold, titanium or tungsten metals. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025

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