rare earth

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. the oxide of any of the rare-earth elements contained in various minerals.

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rare earth British  

noun

1. any oxide of a lanthanide

2. Also called: rare-earth element.  another name for lanthanide

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Etymology

Origin of rare earth

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

rare earth

One of the first priorities is to create a detailed picture of the rare earth minerals available across Sweden.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 24, 2026

According to U.S. authorities, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer requires the equivalent of 2.3 tonnes of rare earth elements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

Kenya opened a tender in April for the exploitation of Mrima Hill in Kwale County, estimated to contain 5.8 million tonnes of niobium and 48.7 million tonnes of rare earth elements.

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

While Myanmar has been massively impoverished by the civil war, it has also emerged as a major global supplier of mined rare earth minerals -- vital for China's production of renewable energy technology.

From Barron's ● Jun. 16, 2026

The rare earth metals are found in the minerals gadolinite, samarskite, fergusonite, euxenite and cerite.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various