magnesium
n.a silver-white metal that is very light and burns with a bright white light. It is an important mineral that your body needs to stay healthy.
n.a light, silvery-white metallic element of the alkaline earth group. It is essential to plant and animal life and is used in lightweight alloys and pyrotechnics.
“Magnesium is found in many green vegetables.”
“The doctor suggested taking a magnesium supplement to help with the patient's recurring muscle cramps.”
“In the aerospace industry, magnesium is often alloyed with aluminum to create components that are exceptionally strong yet light enough to improve fuel efficiency.”
Usually uncountable when referring to the chemical element or dietary mineral; can be countable when referring to specific chemical doses or types of alloys.
“As rainwater and groundwater slowly dissolve minerals such as olivine (an iron-magnesium silicate), magnesium released from the rock reacts with carbon dioxide to form stable carbon-bearing minerals.”
“Sargassum is rich in organic matter, potassium, calcium, magnesium and trace elements.”
From New Latin magnēsium, from Ancient Greek μαγνησία (magnēsía), after Μαγνησία (Magnēsía, “Magnesia”), a region in Thessaly. Coined by British chemist Humphry Davy, as a modification of his original suggestion, magnium.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.