gadolinium

noun

gad·​o·​lin·​i·​um ˌga-də-ˈli-nē-əm How to pronounce gadolinium (audio)
: a magnetic metallic element of the rare-earth group occurring in combination in gadolinite and several other minerals see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of gadolinium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lanthanum, for instance, helps produce colors on smart phone and computer screens, as does gadolinium. Milton Ezrati, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2023 Although gadolinium can stay in the body for months or years, there has been no evidence of harm from gadolinium in brain tissue, despite these agents having been used for many years. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 20 Mar. 2023 The gadolinium would capture the neutron about 20 microseconds after it’s created, taking it into its own nucleus and leading to the immediate burst of gamma rays. Dolly Setton, Discover Magazine, 30 July 2014 May administer gadolinium contrast dosage intravenously. Zachary Smith, cleveland, 29 Mar. 2022 Several years later, the plant installed gadolinium nitrate sprinklers in the Shelter’s roof. Richard Stone, Science | AAAS, 5 May 2021 But physicists have now created detectors that rely on lithium, rather than gadolinium. Sarah Scoles, Wired, 6 Oct. 2020 This spring, scientists will increase the sensitivity of the 22-year-old Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory by doping water in its observation chamber with the rare-earth metal gadolinium. Science News Staff, Science | AAAS, 2 Jan. 2020 Mixed in the water will be the element gadolinium, which will absorb the neutron generated in the collision, emitting a second flash of Cherenkov light. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gadolinium.' 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

gadolin- (in gadolinite, after Johan Gadolin †1852 Finnish chemist and mineralogist) + New Latin -ium -ium

Note: Named by the Swiss chemist Jean Charles Galissard de Marignac (1817-94); see "Le Y α de M. de Marignac est définitivement nommé gadolinium," Note de M. Lecoq de Boisbaudran, Comptes Rendus hebdomadaires des séances de lʼAcadémie des Sciences, tome 102 (janvier-juin 1886), p. 902.

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gadolinium was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near gadolinium

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

gadolinium

noun
gad·​o·​lin·​i·​um ˌgad-ᵊl-ˈin-ē-əm How to pronounce gadolinium (audio)
: a magnetic metallic chemical element see element

Medical Definition

gadolinium

noun
gad·​o·​lin·​i·​um ˌgad-ᵊl-ˈin-ē-əm How to pronounce gadolinium (audio)
: a magnetic metallic element of the rare-earth group
symbol Gd
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on gadolinium

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!