vanadium

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: va=na=di=um

CIDE DICTIONARY

vanadium, n. [NL., fr. Icel. Vanadīs, a surname of the Scandinavian goddess Freya.].

 A rare element of the nitrogen-phosphorus group, found combined, in vanadates, in certain minerals, and reduced as an infusible, grayish-white metallic powder. It is intermediate between the metals and the non-metals, having both basic and acid properties. Symbol V (or Vd, rarely). Atomic weight 50.94 (C12=12.000).  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

vanadium, n. Chem. a hard grey metallic transition element occurring naturally in several ores and used in small quantities for strengthening some steels.

Usage

Symb.: V.

Derivative

vanadate n. vanadic adj. vanadous adj.

Etymology

mod.L f. ON Vanad{iacute}s name of the Scand. goddess Freyja + -IUM