terbium

ter·bi·um  (tûrb-m)

n. Symbol Tb

A soft, silvery-gray metallic rare-earth element, used in x-ray and color television tubes. Atomic number 65; atomic weight 158.925; melting point 1,356°C; boiling point 3,123°C; specific gravity 8.229; valence 3, 4. See Table at element.

---

[After Ytterby, a town in Sweden.]

---

terbium

Noun

Chem a soft silvery-grey element of the lanthanide series of metals Symbol: Tb[after Ytterby, Sweden, where discovered]

---

terbium  (tûrb-m)

Symbol Tb

A soft, silvery-gray metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used in color television tubes, x-ray machines, and lasers. Atomic number 65; atomic weight 158.925; melting point 1,356°C; boiling point 3,123°C; specific gravity 8.229; valence 3, 4. See Periodic Table.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

terbium - a metallic element of the rare earth group; used in lasers; occurs in apatite and monazite and xenotime and ytterbite atomic number 65, Tb metal, metallic element - any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc. apatite - a common complex mineral consisting of calcium fluoride phosphate or calcium chloride phosphate; a source of phosphorus gadolinite, ytterbite - a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium monazite - a reddish-brown mineral containing rare earth metals; an important source of thorium and cerium