noun
dysprosium
dis-PROH-zee-um
Dysprosium (noun) means a silvery metallic rare earth element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66. Example: “Dysprosium is used in some high-performance magnets.”
noun
1
A silvery metallic rare earth element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66.
"Dysprosium is used in some high-performance magnets."
"The chemist noted the symbol Dy beside the element's atomic number of 66."
"Electric motors can contain magnets that make use of dysprosium."
How to use dysprosium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA silvery rare earth metal, symbol Dy, used in strong magnets.
When to use it
It is a technical term, used mainly in chemistry and materials science.
Common pairings
dysprosium magnet
atomic number 66
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Etymology
The name comes from the Ancient Greek word dusprositos, meaning hard to get, with the Latin-style ending -ium added to mark it as an element.
Rhymes for dysprosium
See all rhymes for dysprosium →Frequently asked questions
What is dysprosium?
Dysprosium is a rare earth metal with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66. It has a silvery lustre.
What is dysprosium used for?
It is used in high-performance magnets, which are important in various machines with electric motors.
Where does the word dysprosium come from?
It comes from an Ancient Greek word meaning hard to get, plus the ending -ium.
What is the meaning of dysprosium?
"dysprosium" (noun) means a silvery metallic rare earth element with the symbol Dy and atomic number 66.
