zirconium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a lustrous grey strong metallic element resembling titanium; it is used in nuclear reactors as a neutron absorber; it occurs in baddeleyite but is obtained chiefly from zircon
    atomic number 40; Zr.

WordNet

Zir*co"ni*um noun
Etymology
NL.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A rare element of the carbon-silicon group, intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, obtained from the mineral zircon as a dark sooty powder, or as a gray metallic crystalline substance. Symbol Zr. Atomic weight, 90.4.

Webster 1913