Word
gallium
Phoneticsgal·li·um, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɡæɫiəm/
UK/ɡˈæliəm/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a soft, silver-coloured metal that melts at very low heat, even from the warmth of your hand. People use it to make LEDs, phone chips and other electronics.
n. a soft silvery chemical element with atomic number 31 that melts near 30°C, just above room temperature. Widely used in semiconductors, light-emitting diodes and low-melting alloys.
Examples
“Gallium melts quickly in your warm hand.”
“Engineers use gallium in LEDs and phone chips because it works well in tiny electronic parts.”
“Gallium remains solid at room temperature but liquefies near body heat, a property that makes it valuable for semiconductors, thermometers, and low-melting alloys.”
Examples
simple
“Gallium melts quickly in your warm hand.”
contextual
“Engineers use gallium in LEDs and phone chips because it works well in tiny electronic parts.”
complex
“Gallium remains solid at room temperature but liquefies near body heat, a property that makes it valuable for semiconductors, thermometers, and low-melting alloys.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “gallium” in context.
Verb
01. alloy gallium
“Manufacturers alloy gallium with indium to make low-melting solders.”
verb + noun
02. dope with gallium
“Engineers dope silicon with gallium to make p-type semiconductors.”
verb + prep + noun
03. extract gallium
“Producers extract gallium as a by-product of aluminium refining.”
verb + noun
04. gallium expands
“Gallium expands when it freezes, which can crack glass vials.”
noun + verb
05. gallium melts
“Gallium melts at 29.8C, so it liquefies in your hand.”
noun + verb
06. gallium solidifies
“Gallium solidifies with slight expansion, unlike most metals.”
noun + verb
Noun
07. droplet of gallium
“A droplet of gallium trembled on the spoon without falling.”
noun + prep + noun
08. gallium arsenide
“Gallium arsenide enables high-speed lasers and solar cells.”
noun + noun
09. gallium nitride
“Gallium nitride powers modern LEDs and fast chargers.”
noun + noun
10. dope silicon with gallium
“Fabricators dope silicon with gallium to control conductivity.”
11. extract gallium from bauxite
“Most producers extract gallium from bauxite during alumina refining.”
12. gallium nitride power chip
“The new charger uses a gallium nitride power chip for efficiency.”
Etymology
Named by its discoverer Lecoq, after Latin Gallia (“Gaul”). It was claimed that Lecoq had named the element after himself, since gallus is the Latin translation of the French le coq, but Lecoq denied this in an article of 1877.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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