Word Study
tritium
CIDE DICTIONARY
tritium, n.
A radioactive isotope of hydrogen having one proton and two neutrons in the nucleus. It decays spontaneously to Helium-3 by the emission of an electron (beta ray), with a half-life of 12.3 years. Symbol 1H3. Atomic weight 3.01605 (C-12 = 12.0000). It is one of the radioisotopes commonly used to label chemical compounds for use as tracers in biochemistry and chemistry. It is also used as one of the fusionable components of a hydrogen bomb. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
tritium, n. Chem. a radioactive isotope of hydrogen with a mass about three times that of ordinary hydrogen.
Usage
Symb.: T.
Etymology
mod.L f. Gk tritos third
ROGET THESAURUS
tritium
Calefaction
N calefaction, increase of temperature, heating, calefaction, tepefaction, torrefaction, melting, fusion, liquefaction, burning, ambustion, combustion, incension, accension, concremation, cremation, scorification, cautery, cauterization, ustulation, calcination, cracking, refining, incineration, cineration, carbonization, cupellation, ignition, inflammation, adustion, flagration, deflagration, conflagration, empyrosis, incendiarism, arson, auto dafe, boiling, coction, ebullition, estuation, elixation, decoction, ebullioscope, geyser, distillation (vaporization), furnace, blanket, flannel, fur, wadding, clothing, still, refinery, fractionating column, fractionating tower, cracking tower, match, incendiary, petroleuse, cauterizer, caustic, lunar caustic, alkali, apozem, moxa, acid, aqua fortis, aqua regia, catheretic, nitric acid, nitrochloro-hydric acid, nitromuriatic acid, radioactivity, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta rays, X-rays, radiation, cosmic radiation, background radiation, radioactive isotopes, tritium, uranium, plutonium, radon, radium, sunstroke, coup de soleil, insolation, pottery, ceramics, crockery, porcelain, china, earthenware, stoneware, pot, mug, terra cotta, brick, clinker, cinder, ash, scoriae, embers, soot, slag, coke, carbon, charcoal, wood alcohol, turpentine, tea tree oil, gasoline, kerosene, naptha, fuel oil (fuel), wax, paraffin, residue, tar, inflammability, combustibility, diathermancy, transcalency, conduction, convection, radiation, radiant heat, heat conductivity, conductivity, thermal expansion, coefficient of expansion, heated, molten, sodden, r_echauff_e, heating, adust, inflammable, combustible, diathermal, diathermanous, burnt, volcanic, radioactive.For further exploring for "tritium" in Webster Dictionary Online