magnesium
n. uncountablen. 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.
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.
Usually uncountable when referring to the chemical element or dietary mineral; can be countable when referring to specific chemical doses or types of alloys.