noun
antimony
AN-tih-muh-nee
Antimony (noun) means a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51, which in its stable form is a shiny grey, very brittle metal. Example: “Antimony is written as Sb in the periodic table.”
noun
1
A chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51, which in its stable form is a shiny grey, very brittle metal.
"Antimony is written as Sb in the periodic table."
"The teacher held up a sample of antimony and pointed out how easily it snapped."
"Chemists know antimony as element number 51."
How to use antimony
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAntimony is a brittle grey metal, element number 51, with the symbol Sb.
When to use it
It is a technical word, used mainly in chemistry and science.
Memory tip
Remember that the symbol Sb comes from the Latin stibium, not from the English spelling.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a sample of antimony
the element antimony
antimony and arsenic
an alloy containing antimony
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_____ is written as Sb in the periodic table.
Etymology
The word comes from Medieval Latin antimonium, which is recorded from the 11th century. The chemical symbol Sb comes from a different Latin name, stibium.
Synonyms
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stibium
Sb
Related words
Rhymes for antimony
See all rhymes for antimony →Frequently asked questions
What is antimony?
Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51. In its stable form it is a lustrous grey metal that is very brittle.
Why is the symbol for antimony Sb?
The symbol comes from stibium, the Latin name for the element. That is why it does not match the English word.
Is antimony the same as antinomy?
No. Antimony is a chemical element, while antinomy means a contradiction or paradox. The two words look alike but are unrelated in meaning.
What is the meaning of antimony?
"antimony" (noun) means a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51, which in its stable form is a shiny grey, very brittle metal.
