tungsten

American  

[tuhng-stuhn] / ˈtʌŋ stən /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare, metallic element having a bright-gray color, a metallic luster, and a high melting point, 3410° C, and found in wolframite, tungstite, and other minerals: used in alloys of high-speed cutting tools, electric-lamp filaments, etc. W; 183.85; 74; 19.3.

---

tungsten British  

/ ˈtʌŋstən /

noun

1. Also called: wolfram.  a hard malleable ductile greyish-white element. It occurs principally in wolframite and scheelite and is used in lamp filaments, electrical contact points, X-ray targets, and, alloyed with steel, in high-speed cutting tools. Symbol: W; atomic no: 74; atomic wt: 183.85; valency: 2–6; relative density: 19.3; melting pt: 3422±20°C; boiling pt: 5555°C

---

tungsten Scientific  

/ tŭng′stən /

1. A hard, gray to white metallic element that is very resistant to corrosion. It has the highest melting point of all elements, and it retains its strength at high temperatures. It is used to make light-bulb filaments and to increase the hardness and strength of steel. Atomic number 74; atomic weight 183.84; melting point 3,410°C; boiling point 5,900°C; specific gravity 19.3 (20°C); valence 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

2. Also called wolfram

3. See Periodic Table

---

Other Word Forms

• tungstenic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of tungsten

1760–70; < Swedish, equivalent to tung heavy + sten stone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tungsten

Elmet Group shares soared after the Defense Department announced a $450 million investment aimed at expanding U.S. tungsten production and reducing reliance on China.

From Barron's ● Sep. 14, 2026

On Feb. 4, 2025, Beijing issued Announcement No. 10, putting tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum and indium-related items under export licensing.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

China is the world’s largest producer of tungsten, according to the United States Geological Survey, and has included the element in its export restrictions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

The U.S. is banning the export of lithium-ion battery and tungsten waste for one year starting later this month.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

A poor pharmacist with little in the way of advanced apparatus, he discovered eight elements–chlorine, fluorine, manganese, barium, molybdenum, tungsten, nitrogen, and oxygen–and got credit for none of them.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson