electrum

[ih-lek-truhm]

noun

1. an amber-colored alloy of gold and silver used in ancient times.

2. an alloy composed of about 50 percent copper, 30 percent nickel, and 20 percent zinc.

3. German silver; nickel silver.

electrum

/ ɪˈlɛktrəm /

noun

1. an alloy of gold (55–88 per cent) and silver used for jewellery and ornaments

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrum¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek ḗlektron amber, alloy of gold and silver

Word History and Origins

Origin of electrum¹

C14: from Latin, from Greek ēlektron amber

Example Sentences

This song has an axis of electrum, chile.

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“Electric...that’s like electrum. That’s a kind of stone, a jewel, made out of gum from trees. There’s insects in it, sometimes.”

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Egyptian Pharaohs send expeditions to Punt to recover precious metals, like gold, silver, electrum and rare gemstones.

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And yet if silver be parted from the electrum, then gold remains and not electrum; if silver be taken away from Stannum, then lead remains and not Stannum.

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In both cases the name is derived from the pale yellow colour of electrum, resembling that of amber.

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