Word
beryllium
Phoneticsberyl·li·um
US/bɝˈɪɫiəm/
UK/bɜːɹˈɪliəm/
Definition
n. a very light and strong metal that is used in some types of high-tech equipment. It is also used to make glass that is clear and strong.
n. a hard, light, brittle, silvery-white metallic element with an atomic number of 4. It is notable for its high thermal conductivity and low density, making it useful in aerospace and nuclear applications.
Examples
“Beryllium is used to make strong, light parts for airplanes.”
“Engineers chose beryllium for the satellite's frame because it is both light and extremely durable.”
“The unique properties of beryllium, including its ability to transmit X-rays and its high modulus of elasticity, make it an essential component in the construction of advanced medical imaging equipment.”
Examples
simple
“Beryllium is used to make strong, light parts for airplanes.”
contextual
“Engineers chose beryllium for the satellite's frame because it is both light and extremely durable.”
complex
“The unique properties of beryllium, including its ability to transmit X-rays and its high modulus of elasticity, make it an essential component in the construction of advanced medical imaging equipment.”
Real-World Examples
“The technique detects variations in the abundance of beryllium, a relatively rare chemical element, and could open a new window into studying the evolution of planetary systems.” Etymology
From beryl + -ium, so called because the element is a key component of the mineral beryl.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/beryllium