noun

dilithium

deye-LIH-thee-uhm

Dilithium (noun) means a molecule made of two lithium atoms bonded together, mostly seen in lithium vapor. Example: “Dilithium forms when lithium is heated into a gas.”

noun

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."

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 notes

In 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.

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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.

Rhymes for dilithium

opium sodium helium barium radium medium atrium podium Valium Belgium lithium calcium

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dilithium” mean?

The word “dilithium” means a molecule made of two lithium atoms bonded together, mostly seen in lithium vapor. In plain terms, either a real two-atom lithium molecule in chemistry, or the famous fictional power-crystal from Star Trek.

How do you pronounce “dilithium”?

“Dilithium” is pronounced deye-LIH-thee-uhm (/daɪˈlɪθiəm/ in IPA).

How do you use “dilithium” in a sentence?

Here is “dilithium” used in a sentence: “Dilithium forms when lithium is heated into a gas.”

What part of speech is “dilithium”?

“Dilithium” is a noun.

How many meanings does “dilithium” have?

“Dilithium” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a molecule made of two lithium atoms bonded together, mostly seen in lithium vapor.