hassium

[ has-ee-uhm ]
/ ˈhæs i əm /

noun Chemistry, Physics.

a superheavy, synthetic, radioactive element with a very short half-life. Symbol: Hs; atomic number: 108.

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Formerly un·nil·oc·ti·um [yoo-ni-lok-tee-uhm] /ˌyu nɪˈlɒk ti əm/ , el·e·ment 108 .

Origin of hassium

First recorded in 1990–95; named after Medieval Latin Hassia (the German state of Hesse, location of the institute where it was first created). Its former name unniloctium is from Latin ūn(us) “one” + nīl “nothing” + oct(o-) “eight” + New Latin -ium ; see origin at one, oct-, -ium

Words nearby hassium

Hassam, Hassan II, Hassel, Hasselt, Hassid, hassium, hassle, hassock, hast, hasta la vista, hasta luego
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for hassium

hassium
/ (ˈhæsɪəm) /

noun

a synthetic element produced in small quantities by high-energy ion bombardment. Symbol: Hs; atomic no: 108

Word Origin for hassium

C20: from Latin, from Hesse, German state where it was discovered
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

Medical definitions for hassium

hassium
[ hä′sē-əm ]

n. Symbol Hs

A radioactive synthetic element whose longest-lived isotopes have mass numbers of 264 and 265 with half-lives of 0.08 millisecond and 2 milliseconds. Atomic number 108.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for hassium

hassium
[ hä′sē-əm ]

Hs

A synthetic, radioactive element that is produced by bombarding lead with iron ions. Its known isotopes have mass numbers ranging from 263 to 277. Hs 277 has the longest confirmed half-life (16.5 minutes). Atomic number 108. See Periodic Table.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.