cadmium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a soft bluish-white ductile malleable toxic bivalent metallic element; occurs in association with zinc ores
    atomic number 48; Cd.

WordNet

Cad"mi*um noun
Etymology
NL. See Cadmia.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A comparatively rare element related to zinc, and occurring in some zinc ores. It is a white metal, both ductile and malleable. Symbol Cd. Atomic weight 111.8. It was discovered by Stromeyer in 1817, who named it from its association with zinc or zinc ore.

Webster 1913