aluminum

noun

alu·​mi·​num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm How to pronounce aluminum (audio)
: a silver-white metallic chemical element with atomic number 13 that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation
often used before another noun
aluminum foil
The sweet spot, the point in a bat where vibration supposedly is least, is said to be two times larger on an aluminum bat than on a wood one.Hank Hersch
Before he evacuated, Mr. Gonzales tied the boat down with four gigantic ropes and all the storm could do was knock it off the construction blocks. He slowly climbs a battered aluminum ladder propped up on the port side.Ken Wells
see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of aluminum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Instead of using plastic water bottles, use glass, aluminum, or stainless steel to minimize the risk of plastic leaching into your drinking water. Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2024 Climate & Environment California’s air pollution fight just got tougher: New EPA standards raise the bar on soot Feb. 7, 2024 Federal investigators also found stormwater discharged from the facility contained copper, iron, zinc and aluminum above federal standards. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024 Gray and about 28 inches long by 19 inches wide and 24 inches high, the swings have a round aluminum base with music buttons on the front, a metal seat frame, a cloth seat with restraints and a headrest. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 She’s led the Norwegian aluminum and energy giant Norsk Hydro since 2019, steering it through the highs and lows of the pandemic-time demand and price volatility. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 8 Mar. 2024 When shopping for sheet pans, look for thick metal — aluminum or aluminized steel — with a heavy gauge (13 to 18 gauge). Olga Massov, Washington Post, 4 Mar. 2024 The contemporary design ethos is further evident in the bronze unidirectional rotating bezel, which is complemented by a black anodized aluminum insert, striking a balance between modern flair and traditional diver aesthetics. Bhanu Chopra, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 However, flammability comes from the polymer, not aluminum. Alex Christian, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 All but one had been starved. Inside the shed, police investigators found a machete, a homemade electrical prod, crossbow arrows, aluminum bats, and several other weapons. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aluminum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from alumina

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aluminum was in 1812

Dictionary Entries Near aluminum

Cite this Entry

“Aluminum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aluminum. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aluminum

noun
alu·​mi·​num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm How to pronounce aluminum (audio)
: a silver-white malleable light element that conducts electricity and heat well, is highly resistant to oxidation, and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust see element

Medical Definition

aluminum

noun
alu·​mi·​num ə-ˈlü-mə-nəm How to pronounce aluminum (audio)
often attributive
: a bluish silver-white malleable ductile light trivalent metallic element that has good electrical and thermal conductivity, high reflectivity, and resistance to oxidation and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust where it always occurs in combination
symbol Al
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on aluminum

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