Word
radon
US/ˈɹeɪˌdɑn/
UK/ɹˈeɪdɒn/
Definition
n. a gas that comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. It is invisible and can be dangerous if it builds up inside homes.
n. a radioactive noble gas produced by the decay of radium, which itself is a decay product of uranium. It is colourless, odourless, and chemically inert, but poses a significant health risk when inhaled in high concentrations.
Examples
“Radon levels in the basement are too high for safety.”
“The health department recommends testing for radon in every new home to prevent long-term exposure to the gas.”
“While radon is a naturally occurring element, its accumulation in poorly ventilated structures can lead to lung cancer, making it the second leading cause of the disease after smoking.”
Examples
simple
“Radon levels in the basement are too high for safety.”
contextual
“The health department recommends testing for radon in every new home to prevent long-term exposure to the gas.”
complex
“While radon is a naturally occurring element, its accumulation in poorly ventilated structures can lead to lung cancer, making it the second leading cause of the disease after smoking.”
Real-World Examples
“Given the age of school buildings in Pennsylvania, many buildings likely contain lead paint or pipes as well as asbestos and sometimes radon .” Etymology
Contraction of radium emanation, since the element appears in the radioactive decay of radium. By surface analysis, radio- + -on (“suffix for noble gases”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/radon