cadmium

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the soft, silvery-white, toxic chemical element with symbol Cd and atomic number 48

   Cadmium control rods absorb neutrons and help regulate a nuclear chain reaction.

Named in 1817 from New Latin cadmia, from Greek kadmeia ("calamine"), a zinc ore in which cadmium was discovered. The mineral name was traditionally associated with the mythical Theban founder Cadmus.

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