ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cadmium

n.
C1 Advanced US //ˈkædmiəm// UK //kˈædmiəm// cad·mi·um

n. a soft, silver-white metal that is used to make bright red and orange paints. It is also used in batteries and some types of metal alloys.

n. a soft, bluish-white, lustrous metallic element that is toxic and used in various industrial applications. It is a heavy metal with a low melting point and is often used in pigments, batteries, and coatings.


SIMPLE

Cadmium is used to make the bright red paint on the car.

CONTEXTUAL

The factory was fined for releasing cadmium into the local river, which is harmful to both plants and fish.

COMPLEX

While cadmium provides excellent corrosion resistance when alloyed with copper, its environmental impact has led to a global shift toward safer alternatives in modern manufacturing.

Synonyms
Origin

1817, from Ancient Greek Καδμεία (Kadmeía, “calamine”), a cadmium-bearing mixture of minerals, which was named after the king Κάδμος (Kádmos, “Cadmus”).

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