aluminum

American  

[uh-loo-muh-nuhm] / əˈlu mə nəm /

British, aluminium

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.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or containing aluminum.

   an aluminum frying pan.

aluminum Scientific  

/ ə-lo̅o̅′mə-nəm /

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

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Other Word Forms

• aluminic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of aluminum

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

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Compare meaning

How does aluminum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• alumina vs. aluminum

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Explanation

Aluminum is a relatively lightweight type of silver-colored metal. Most soda cans are made out of aluminum. Aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth's crust. Because it is lightweight, durable, and highly pliable, it is used in everything from airplane parts and foil to bicycles and high-voltage power lines. Its name is derived from alumina (aluminum oxide), which traces back to the Latin word alumen, meaning "bitter salt."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aluminum

Its design combines composite fiber tubes, aluminum connectors, and a lightweight reflective surface made from Kapton, a durable polymer film commonly used in spacecraft.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 9, 2026

My father and the others could give a dissertation on different types of screws: steel, stainless steel, iron, aluminum, thread angles and thickness, and on and on.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

In the case of Mexico, Lutnick has opposed significant reductions in the 25% tariff on Mexican automobiles and the 50% levies on steel and aluminum.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 4, 2026

Rio, one of the largest aluminum producers outside China, is starting up in Saguenay the West’s first new smelters in more than a decade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026

They should be at home, fashioning bracelets out of old aluminum cans or just sitting at the kitchen table playing Lotería with Mamá.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

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Related Words

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