Word
radium
Phoneticsra·di·um
US/ˈɹeɪdiəm/
UK/ɹˈeɪdiəm/
Definitions
01chemical element
n. a rare, silvery metal that is radioactive and glows slightly in the dark.
n. a radioactive metallic element of the alkaline earth series, found in minute quantities in uranium ores.
“Marie Curie discovered radium and studied how its radiation could be used.”
“The discovery of radium revolutionized our understanding of atomic physics, though its intense radioactivity posed severe health risks to early researchers.”
Technical
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the element itself; countable when referring to a specific sample or isotope.
Synonyms
02shiny fabric
n. a type of smooth, shiny cloth made from silk or similar materials.
n. a lustrous fabric woven from silk or synthetic yarns, characterized by its glossy finish.
“The vintage dress was made of a shimmering radium silk.”
“The boutique specialized in evening gowns crafted from radium, a fabric prized in the early twentieth century for its exceptional sheen.”
Archaic
Teaching tip
This sense is obsolete in modern fashion; learners will likely only encounter it in historical contexts or period literature.
03to treat with radiation
v. to use radium to treat a disease like cancer.
v. to apply radium or its emissions for therapeutic purposes, particularly in the treatment of malignant tumours.
“Doctors used to radium the affected area to stop the growth.”
“Before the development of modern linear accelerators, physicians would radium the site of a tumour using specialized needles or plaques.”
Archaic · Technical
Usage
Transitive verb; usually takes the medical condition or the body part as a direct object.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“A team of researchers from Penn State is trying to better understand the environmental impacts of these sites—specifically, whether fracking is increasing radium content in local drinking water.” Etymology
Borrowed from French radium, from rad(ioactif) (“radioactive”) + -ium (suffix used to form the names of metallic elements).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/radium