krypton

[krip-ton]

noun Chemistry.

an inert, monatomic gaseous element, present in very small amounts in the atmosphere: used in high-power, tungsten-filament light bulbs. Symbol: Kr; atomic weight: 83.80; atomic number: 36.

Origin of krypton

1895–1900; < Greek kryptón, neuter of kryptós hidden, secret; see crypt

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for krypton

Contemporary Examples of krypton

In Earth One, a revenge-thirsty alien named Tyrell comes to Earth to kill the last son of Krypton.
‘Man of Steel’ Is Fun to Watch, But It’s Still a Failure. Here’s Why.
Sujay Kumar
June 15, 2013
Since Krypton is dying, Jor-El plots to send his newborn to a far-off planet and settles on earth.
‘Man of Steel,’ New Superman Movie Starring Henry Cavill, Falls Flat
Marlow Stern
June 11, 2013

Historical Examples of krypton

The evidence for the existence of krypton and xenon is, however, inconclusive.
Astronomical Curiosities
J. Ellard Gore
The remaining elements of this group—neon, krypton, and xenon—have been obtained from liquid air.
An Elementary Study of Chemistry
William McPherson

British Dictionary definitions for krypton

krypton

noun

an inert gaseous element occurring in trace amounts in air and used in fluorescent lights and lasers. Symbol: Kr; atomic no: 36; atomic wt: 83.80; valency: 0; density: 3.733 kg/m³; melting pt: –157.37°C; boiling pt: –153.23±0.10°C

Word Origin for krypton

C19: from Greek, from kruptos hidden; see crypt

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

Word Origin and History for krypton

inert gaseous element, 1898, coined by its discoverers (Sir William Ramsay and Morris W. Travers) from Greek krypton, neuter of adjective kryptos "hidden" (see crypt); so called because it was so difficult to find.

krypton in Medicine

krypton

[krĭp′tŏn′]

n. Symbol Kr

A largely inert gaseous element used in gas fluorescent lamps, whose artificial radioisotope is used in diagnostic imaging. Atomic number 36.

krypton in Science

krypton

[krĭp′tŏn′]

A colorless, odorless element in the noble gas group. It is used in certain fluorescent lamps and photographic flash lamps. Atomic number 36; atomic weight 83.80; melting point -156.6°C; boiling point -152.30°C; density 3.73 grams per liter (0°C). See Periodic Table.