neodymium

American  

[nee-oh-dim-ee-uhm] / ˌni oʊˈdɪm i əm /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a rare-earth, metallic, trivalent element occurring with cerium and other rare-earth metals, and having rose-colored to violet-colored salts. Nd; 144.24; 60; 6.9 at 20°C.

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neodymium British  

/ ˌniːəʊˈdɪmɪəm /

noun

1. a toxic silvery-white metallic element of the lanthanide series, occurring principally in monazite: used in colouring glass. Symbol: Nd; atomic no: 60; atomic wt: 144.24; valency: 3; relative density: 6.80 and 7.00 (depending on allotrope); melting pt: 1024°C; boiling pt: 3127°C

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neodymium Scientific  

/ nē′ō-dĭm′ē-əm /

1. A shiny, silvery metallic element of the lanthanide series. It is used to make glass for welders' goggles and purple glass for lasers. Atomic number 60; atomic weight 144.24; melting point 1,024°C; boiling point 3,027°C; specific gravity 6.80 or 7.004 (depending on allotropic form); valence 3.

2. See Periodic Table

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Etymology

Origin of neodymium

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; see origin at neo-, didymium

Example Sentences

Samsara Eco plans to focus initially on rare earths such as neodymium and dysprosium, which are used as alloys in magnets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

For example, neodymium is found at 20 parts per million in the Earth's crust, in comparison copper is at 27.

From BBC • Feb. 5, 2026

Four elements account for most of the sector's economic value: neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium and terbium.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

"Dissolved neodymium and its isotopic fingerprint in seawater are excellent indicators of the origin of deep-water masses," explains Dr. Marcus Gutjahr.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2025

It was formerly supposed to be an element, but has since been found to consist of two simpler elementary substances, neodymium and praseodymium.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section D and E by Project Gutenberg