molybdenum

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) A chemical element (symbol Mo) with an atomic number of 42: a silvery metal, not found as a free element, used in steel alloys.
2. (countable, uncountable) A single atom of this element.

Synonyms

Mo

atomic number 42

atomic No 42

Translations

molybdène

Molybdän

molibdeno

molibdeno

molybdeen

molibdénio

μολυβδαίνιο

μολυβδένιο

molibden

molibdè

molibdênio

molibdèn

موليبدنيوم

موليبدنم

Pronounced as (IPA)

/məˈlɪbdɪnəm/

Etymology

Cognate with Lydian: 𐤪𐤠𐤭𐤦𐤥𐤣𐤠

In summary

From New Latin molybdaenum, from molybdaena (“any of various substances resembling lead”), from Ancient Greek μολύβδαινα (molúbdaina, “a plummet, piece of lead”), from μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead; graphite”), from an Anatolian word cognate with Lydian 𐤪𐤠𐤭𐤦𐤥𐤣𐤠 (mariwda, “dark”), from Proto-Indo-European *morkʷ-iyo-, from a root *morkʷ- (“dark”), cognate with English murk. Cf. Latin plumbum nigrum 'lead'. The suffix is + -um (“a chemical element”).
Attested since the last quarter of 18th century.