noun
cerium
SEER-ee-um
Cerium (noun) means a soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. Example: “Cerium is a soft, ductile metal.”
noun
1
A soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58.
"Cerium is a soft, ductile metal."
"A freshly cut piece of cerium tarnishes when left in the air."
"The symbol for cerium on the periodic table is Ce."
How to use cerium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft, silvery-white metal element with the symbol Ce.
When to use it
It is a scientific term, used mainly in chemistry and materials science.
Memory tip
The word is normally uncountable, so you say some cerium rather than a cerium.
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Common pairings
cerium oxide
cerium metal
a sample of cerium
the element cerium
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_____ is a soft, ductile metal.
Etymology
The element was discovered and named in 1803, after the asteroid Ceres, which had been found only two years earlier. Ceres itself was named after the Roman goddess of agriculture, and the name is formed with the suffix -ium.
Rhymes for cerium
See all rhymes for cerium →Frequently asked questions
What is cerium?
Cerium is a chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58. It is a soft, ductile, silvery-white metal.
How did cerium get its name?
It was named after the asteroid Ceres, discovered in 1801. The element itself was discovered and named in 1803.
What happens to cerium in air?
Cerium tarnishes when it is exposed to air.
What is the meaning of cerium?
"cerium" (noun) means a soft, silvery-white metallic chemical element with the symbol Ce and atomic number 58.
