noun
dilithium
deye-LIH-thee-uhm
noun
1
A molecule made of two lithium atoms bonded together, mostly seen in lithium vapor.
"Dilithium forms when lithium is heated into a gas."
"Chemists study dilithium to understand how metal atoms bond in vapor form."
2
In Star Trek, a fictional crystal said to power starship engines by regulating matter-antimatter reactions.
"In the film, the crew scrambles to find more dilithium crystals to power the ship."
How to Use Dilithium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a real two-atom lithium molecule in chemistry, or the famous fictional power-crystal from Star Trek.
Common mistake
Most people know it only from Star Trek — the real chemistry sense is a niche scientific term.
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “dilithium”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ forms when lithium is heated into a gas.
Etymology
From "di-" (two) plus "lithium", the metal.