niobium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a soft grey ductile metallic element used in alloys; occurs in niobite; formerly called columbium
    Nb; atomic number 41.

WordNet

Ni*o"bi*um noun
Etymology
NL., fr. L. & E. Niobe.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A later name of columbium. See Columbium.

Webster 1913