aluminum

British, al·u·min·i·um

[uh-loo-muh-nuhm]

noun

1. Chemistry.,  a silver-white metallic element, light in weight, ductile, malleable, and not readily corroded or tarnished, occurring combined in nature in igneous rock, shale, clay, and most soil: used in alloys and for lightweight utensils, castings, airplane parts, etc. alum.; Al; 26.98; 13; 2.70 at 20°C.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing aluminum.

   an aluminum frying pan.

aluminum

1. Symbol Al A lightweight, silvery-white metallic element that is ductile, is found chiefly in bauxite, and is a good conductor of electricity. It is the most abundant metal in the Earth's crust and is used to make a wide variety of products from soda cans to airplane components. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.9815; melting point 660.3°C (1,220.5°F); boiling point 2,519°C; specific gravity 2.70; valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

Other Word Forms

• aluminic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aluminum¹

1812; from New Latin; aluminum was an alteration, by Humphry Davy, of alumium, which was first proposed; the chiefly British variant aluminium was formed after other metals in -ium. See alumina, -ium

Example Sentences

The scheme is already in the process of expanding from the power sector to cover heavy industry including cement, steel and aluminum, and officials have signalled plans to apply it to even more sectors.

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Canada is the United States' second-largest trading partner and a major supplier of steel and aluminum to US companies.

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Repairing relations with China has become a priority for Carney, who is seeking other markets to offset the damage caused by U.S. tariffs on Canadian exports like steel, aluminum and lumber.

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See American companies that use aluminum or steel.

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In addition to recent talks on steel and aluminum tariffs, the nations are preparing for a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement scheduled for next year.

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Related Words

• bottle 
• bucket 
• canister 
• jar 
• package