strontium

noun

stron·​tium ˈsträn(t)-sh(ē-)əm How to pronounce strontium (audio)
ˈsträn-tē-əm
: a soft malleable ductile metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination and used especially in color TV tubes, in crimson fireworks, and in the production of some ferrites see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of strontium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Plenty of other scientific luminaries have their work commemorated in the Royal Institution's collection, including that of Faraday's mentor, Humphry Davy, who discovered the chemical elements barium, strontium, sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 Dec. 2023 That means scientists can track temperatures by looking at the ratio of strontium and calcium as the creatures steadily grow. Evan Bush, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2024 The team used strontium and oxygen isoscapes—landscapes with isotope ratios tracked—as well as a new sulfur isoscape created by Audrey Rowe. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024 That diversity translates into a corresponding patchwork of strontium isotope signatures in the underlying geology. Jeanne Timmons, Ars Technica, 18 Jan. 2024 The layers at the tip of his tusk had strontium levels that matched the site where he had been unearthed. Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2024 Meanwhile Wooller and his colleagues were looking at the strontium and other isotopes in Kik’s tusk. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023 In a separate study, a different group of researchers—also based at CU Boulder—used lasers to hold strontium atoms in a single two-dimensional plane. IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2023 The museum’s director, a paleontologist named Patrick Druckenmiller, who contributed to the Kik study, says strontium isotypes in these rodents’ teeth offered the key mapping aid. Richard Grant, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'strontium.' 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 strontia strontium oxide, from obsolete English strontian, from Strontian, village in Scotland

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of strontium was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near strontium

Cite this Entry

“Strontium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strontium. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

strontium

noun
stron·​tium ˈsträn-ch(ē-)əm How to pronounce strontium (audio)
ˈstränt-ē-əm
: a soft metallic element that can be hammered and shaped, occurs only in combination, and is used in color TV picture tubes and red fireworks see element

Medical Definition

strontium

noun
: a soft malleable ductile bivalent metallic element of the alkaline-earth group occurring only in combination
symbol Sr
see Chemical Elements Table

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