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• periodic table
  periodic table

  noun

  a table illustrating the periodic system, in which the chemical elements, formerly arranged in the order of their atomic weights and now according to their atomic numbers, are shown in related groups.
• Periodic Table
  Periodic Table

  A table in which the chemical elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. Elements with similar properties are arranged in the same column (called a group), and elements with the same number of electron shells are arranged in the same row (called a period).

periodic table

American  

[peer-ee-od-ik, peer-] / ˈpɪər iˈɒd ɪk, ˌpɪər- /

noun

Chemistry.

• periodic tables
  plural

1. a table illustrating the periodic system, in which the chemical elements, formerly arranged in the order of their atomic weights and now according to their atomic numbers, are shown in related groups.

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periodic table British  

/ ˌpɪərɪˈɒdɪk /

noun

1. a table of the elements, arranged in order of increasing atomic number, based on the periodic law. Elements having similar chemical properties and electronic structures appear in vertical columns (groups)

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Periodic Table Scientific  

1. A table in which the chemical elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. Elements with similar properties are arranged in the same column (called a group), and elements with the same number of electron shells are arranged in the same row (called a period).

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• periodic tables
  plural

Etymology

Origin of periodic table

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

periodic table Periodic Table

Every character has an adorable quirk or two, or at minimum owns a dorky T-shirt with a periodic table joke or a cartoon cat.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026

It has long held a spot on the periodic table of elements, but has remained under the radar despite its use in military systems, self-driving vehicles and fast chargers for laptops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026

With important electrical and magnetic qualities, rare earths consist of 17 elements in the lanthanide group of the periodic table, plus scandium and yytrium.

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2026

Germanium and arsenic sit next to each other on the periodic table, making the compounds chemically similar but structurally distinct.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 12, 2026

When I glimpse a periodic table through the open door of a chemistry classroom, it looks like no less of a jumble.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Science: Carbon is atomic number 6 on the Periodic Table of Elements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2025

The research group started their work to create a Periodic Table for shapes several years ago.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2023

Segar also cites Rockefeller’s Periodic Table of Food, an effort to create a database that breaks down food composition.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 4, 2022

When an atom loses two protons from its nucleus, lowering its atomic number, it is transformed into an element that is two atomic numbers lower on the Periodic Table of the Elements.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

Molecules do not interest her, she doesn’t seem able to grasp the Periodic Table.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood