tel·lu·ri·um (t -l r  - m)n. Symbol Te A brittle, silvery-white metallic element usually found in combination with gold and other metals, produced commercially as a byproduct of the electrolytic refining of copper and used to alloy stainless steel and lead, in ceramics, and, in the form of bismuth telluride, in thermoelectric devices. Atomic number 52; atomic weight 127.60; melting point 449.5°C; boiling point 989.8°C; specific gravity 6.24; valence 2, 4, 6. See Table at element. |
tellurium [tɛˈlʊərɪəm]
n
(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) a brittle silvery-white nonmetallic element occurring both uncombined and in combination with metals: used in alloys of lead and copper and as a semiconductor. Symbol: Te; atomic no.: 52; atomic wt.: 127.60; valency: 2, 4, or 6; relative density: 6.24; melting pt.: 449.57±0.3°C; boiling pt.: 988°C
[New Latin, from Latin tellūs the earth, formed by analogy with uranium]
| tellurium (t-lr-m) Symbol Te A metalloid element that occurs as either a brittle, shiny, silvery-white crystal or a gray or brown powder. Small amounts of tellurium are used to improve the alloys of various metals. Atomic number 52; atomic weight 127.60; melting point 449.5°C; boiling point 989.8°C; specific gravity 6.24; valence 2, 4, 6. See Periodic Table. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  tellurium - a brittle silver-white metalloid element that is related to selenium and sulfur; it is used in alloys and as a semiconductor; occurs mainly as tellurides in ores of copper and nickel and silver and goldchemical element, element - any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter graphic tellurium, sylvanite - a silver-white mineral consisting of silver gold telluride; a source of gold in Australia and America telluride - any binary compound of tellurium with other more electropositive elements |
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