Definition of ytterbium
: a soft metallic element of the rare-earth group that occurs especially with other rare earth elements in minerals and that has few commercial uses — see element table
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Origin and Etymology of ytterbium
New Latin, from Ytterby, town in southern Sweden
First Known Use: 1879
Medical Dictionary
ytterbium
playMedical Definition of ytterbium
: a bivalent or trivalent metallic element of the rare-earth group that resembles yttrium and occurs with it and related elements in several minerals—symbol Yb; see element table
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ytterbium
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