indium

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: in=di=um

CIDE DICTIONARY

indium, n. [NL. See Indigo.].

 A rare metallic element, of atomic number 49, discovered in certain ores of zinc, by means of its characteristic spectrum of two indigo blue lines; hence, its name. In appearance it resembles zinc, being white or lead gray, soft, malleable and easily fusible, but in its chemical relation it resembles aluminium or gallium (valence +3). Symbol In. Atomic weight, 114.82.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

indium, n. Chem. a soft silvery-white metallic element occurring naturally in zinc blende etc., used for electroplating and in semiconductors.

Usage

Symb.: In.

Etymology

L indicum indigo with ref. to its characteristic spectral lines