cerium

noun

ce·​ri·​um ˈsir-ē-əm How to pronounce cerium (audio)
: a metallic chemical element that is the most abundant of the rare-earth group and is a chief component of misch metal see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of cerium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Some of those more obscure elements play fundamental roles in shaping modern-day society: lighter flints use cerium, smoke detectors have americium inside, and color televisions need Europium to function. Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2016 Turning at roughly one rotation per minute, the CR5—for counter rotating ring receiver reactor recuperator—moves these rings studded with teeth containing iron oxide (also known as ferrite, or rust) or cerium oxide (ceria) into and out of the sunlight. David Biello, Scientific American, 23 Sep. 2010 Adding another, to make cerium, atomic number 58, adds an electron to the fourth circle. Stanley Merzman, Discover Magazine, 21 Aug. 2018 About 24 million tonnes of magnesium and 3.1 million tonnes of cobalt are estimated to be in manganese crusts grown on bedrock over millions of years, as well as 1.7 million tonnes of cerium, a rare earth element used in alloys. Laura Paddison, CNN, 30 Jan. 2023 This dazzling beam of light heats a reactor with a core made of cerium oxide, an inexpensive compound often used to polish glass. Frank Swain, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2020 At 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit, oxygen is liberated from the cerium and removed, after which water and carbon dioxide captured from the air are injected into the reactor. Frank Swain, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2020 Or cerium, which is an important material in catalytic converters. Wired, 14 July 2022 Enriched with antioxidant-rich algae extract, blue-light thwarting cerium and moisture-boosting fermentation factors, Sueprgoop’s daily moisturizer has major muscle as a hydrator. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cerium.' 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 Ceres, an asteroid

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cerium was in 1804

Dictionary Entries Near cerium

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

cerium

noun
ce·​ri·​um ˈsir-ē-əm How to pronounce cerium (audio)
: a soft metallic element see element

Medical Definition

cerium

noun
ce·​ri·​um ˈsir-ē-əm How to pronounce cerium (audio)
: a malleable ductile metallic element that is the most abundant of the rare-earth group
symbol Ce
see Chemical Elements Table

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