tungsten

noun

tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən How to pronounce tungsten (audio)
: 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 For Adams, the exciting thing about tungsten was its scarceness in ordinary life--only one other tungsten-containing enzyme had ever been isolated from a living organism. Will Hively, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 The source focuses a stream of electrons from the back of the tube onto the tungsten target. IEEE Spectrum, 5 Dec. 2017 And the West is in critically short supply of lithium, tin, and tungsten, unlike China. Ivor Ichikowitz, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2024 Allee was using a 3.6-inch black Berkley Flat Worm with a small 1/32-ounce tungsten nail weight fastened on a 3/0 Eagle Claw Trokar Hook. Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 17 Jan. 2024 Now Adams and his co-workers on this molecular disassembly line began finding tungsten right and left. Will Hively, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 Essentially the heat exhaust of the reactor, the divertor absorbs excess heat from the plasma into pieces of tungsten. IEEE Spectrum, 15 July 2023 Such alternative lead weights (made of steel, tin, tungsten, and alloys) are more expensive than lead. Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 29 Aug. 2019 Any hafnium stays happily in the mantle and keeps on decaying into tungsten, which then remains in the silicate mantle if no further core formation occurs. Linda T. Elkins-Tanton, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tungsten.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Swedish, from tung heavy + sten stone

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tungsten was in 1796

Dictionary Entries Near tungsten

Cite this Entry

“Tungsten.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tungsten. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

tungsten

noun
tung·​sten ˈtəŋ-stən How to pronounce tungsten (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce tungsten (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on tungsten

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