tantalum

American

[tan-tl-uhm] / ˈtæn tl əm /

noun

Chemistry.

a gray, hard, rare, metallic element occurring in columbite and tantalite and usually associated with niobium: used, because of its resistance to corrosion by most acids, for chemical, dental, and surgical instruments and apparatus. Ta; 180.948; 73; 16.6.

tantalum British

/ ˈtæntələm /

noun

a hard greyish-white metallic element that occurs with niobium in tantalite and columbite: used in electrical capacitors in most circuit boards and in alloys to increase hardness and chemical resistance, esp in surgical instruments. Symbol: Ta; atomic no: 73; atomic wt: 180.9479; valency: 2, 3, 4, or 5; relative density: 16.654; melting pt: 3020°C; boiling pt: 5458±100°C

"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

tantalum Scientific

/ tăn′tə-ləm /

A hard, heavy, gray metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion at low temperatures. It is used to make light-bulb filaments, surgical instruments, and glass for camera lenses. Atomic number 73; atomic weight 180.948; melting point 3,017°C; boiling point 5,458°C; specific gravity 16.6; valence 2, 3, 4, 5.
See Periodic Table

Etymology

Origin of tantalum

1795–1805; < New Latin; named after Tantalus

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

tantalum

It is called Tanbreez, a neologism that refers to tantalum, niobium, rare-earth elements and zirconium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

With no local testing or controls of exports, secondary minerals like tantalum, beryl and tin were being shipped out undetected and untaxed.

From Barron's ● Mar. 26, 2026

The metallic ore contains tantalum, which is used to produce high-performance capacitors in a range of electronic devices, making it in high demand worldwide.

From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2026

The company also said it continues to strengthen industrywide supply-chain due diligence, and last year told suppliers to stop obtaining tin, tungsten, tantalum and gold from Congo and neighboring Rwanda.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 8, 2025

I brought along a piece of platinum from the power plant, and something that I think is tantalum from Barkovis' description of it.

From Spacehounds of IPC by E. E. (Edward Elmer) Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023