cerium
Americannoun
noun
-
A shiny, gray metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is ductile and malleable and is used in electronic components, alloys, and lighter flints. It is also used in glass polishing, as a catalyst in self-cleaning ovens, and in various nuclear applications. Atomic number 58; atomic weight 140.12; melting point 795°C; boiling point 3,468°C; specific gravity 6.67 to 8.23; valence 3, 4.
-
See Periodic Table
Etymology
Origin of cerium
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It condensed much later than the other elements, and when it remained at high temperatures for longer periods, it mixed far more extensively with uranium and cerium.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 3, 2026
In insulating materials such as CeMgAl11O19, magnetic ions like cerium can adopt one of two arrangements: ferromagnetic or anti-ferromagnetic.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 22, 2026
Valor has designed reusable ligands for 10 elements, including gold, copper, platinum, nickel and a number of otherwise difficult-to-isolate rare earths, including cerium, dysprosium and yttrium.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026
In the chemical industry, cerium is widely used in oil refining and glass polishing -- as well as in flints for cigarette lighters.
From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026
Later he greatly improved the mantles by purifying the oxides and finally achieved his great triumph by adding a slight amount of ceria, an oxide of cerium.
From Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization by Matthew Luckiesh
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
