argon

[ ahr-gon ]

/ ˈɑr gɒn /

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noun Chemistry.

a colorless, odorless, chemically inactive, monatomic, gaseous element that, because of its inertness, is used for filling fluorescent and incandescent lamps and vacuum tubes. Symbol: Ar; atomic number: 18; atomic weight: 39.948.

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Origin of argon

1890–95; <Greek, neuter of argós inactive, not working, idle, contraction of aergós equivalent to a-a-⁶ + érg(on) work + -os adj. suffix

Words nearby argon

Argive, argle-bargle, Argo, argol, Argolis, argon, Argonaut, Argonauts, Argonne, Argonne Forest, argonon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use argon in a sentence

If you want to level up from the classic topper you received as a holiday gift, Herwaldt swears by the Repour Wine Saver, which introduces argon into the open bottle.
How to keep wine fresh after opening it|Sandra Gutierrez|August 24, 2021|Popular-Science
The ultracold temps would have made nitrogen, argon, krypton and xenon freeze solid.
Born in deep shadows? That could explain Jupiter’s strange makeup|Ken Croswell|August 6, 2021|Science News For Students
Some of the most advanced modern detectors trace their lineage back to multiwire proportional chambers, such as liquid argon time projection chambers.
How particle detectors capture matter’s hidden, beautiful reality|Emily Conover|August 5, 2021|Science News
The frosty temperature made nitrogen, argon, krypton and xenon freeze solid and become a greater part of the planet, the scientists suggest in a study in the July Astronomy & Astrophysics.
A shadowy birthplace may explain Jupiter’s strange chemistry|Ken Croswell|July 6, 2021|Science News

This same phenomenon is at work in neon signs, which are tubes of gases such as neon, helium and argon.
The aurora borealis skipped this Alaska photography class. But some swinging light cords saved the night.|Bailey Berg|February 26, 2021|Washington Post
The atmosphere of the earth is composed mainly of very volatile elements, known as nitrogen and argon.
Outlines of the Earth's History|Nathaniel Southgate Shaler
(Beilage), pp. 33-43, entitled Professor Grtz un' der jdischer argon, oder Wer mit ws darf sich schmen?
The History of Yiddish Literature in the Nineteenth Century|Leo Wiener
Argon, ar′gon, n. a constituent element of our atmosphere, discovered in 1894 by Rayleigh and Ramsay.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various
They soon succeeded in isolating this denser gas, to which they gave the name of argon.
Marvels of Scientific Invention|Thomas W. Corbin
It combines directly with nitrogen, when heated in the gas, to form the nitride Mg3N2 (see Argon).
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for argon

argon

/ (ˈɑːɡɒn) /

noun

an extremely unreactive colourless odourless element of the rare gas series that forms almost 1 per cent (by volume) of the atmosphere. It is used in electric lights. Symbol: Ar; atomic no: 18; atomic wt: 39.948; density: 1.7837 kg/m³; freezing pt: –189.3°C; boiling pt: –185.9°C

Word Origin for argon

C19: from Greek, from argos idle, inactive, from a- 1 + ergon work

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for argon

argon

[ är′gŏn′ ]

A colorless, odorless element in the noble gas group. Argon makes up about one percent of the atmosphere. It is used in electric light bulbs, fluorescent tubes, and radio vacuum tubes. Atomic number 18; atomic weight 39.948; melting point -189.2°C; boiling point -185.7°C. See Periodic Table.