noun
gallium
GAL-ee-um
Gallium (noun) means a soft, bluish metallic chemical element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31. Example: “Gallium has the atomic number 31.”
noun
1
A soft, bluish metallic chemical element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31.
"Gallium has the atomic number 31."
"The periodic table lists gallium under the symbol Ga."
"Gallium is a soft bluish metal."
How to use gallium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft, bluish metal, chemical symbol Ga.
When to use it
It is a scientific term, used mainly in chemistry.
Memory tip
It is uncountable, so you say gallium rather than a gallium or galliums.
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Common pairings
gallium metal
liquid gallium
gallium arsenide
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_____ has the atomic number 31.
Etymology
English borrowed the word from French. Its discoverer, Lecoq, named it after the Latin Gallia, meaning Gaul. Some claimed he was punning on his own name, since gallus is Latin for the French le coq, but he denied this in 1877.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gallium
See all rhymes for gallium →Frequently asked questions
What is the symbol for gallium?
The chemical symbol for gallium is Ga.
What is the atomic number of gallium?
Gallium has the atomic number 31.
Who named gallium?
Its discoverer, Lecoq, named it, taking the name from the Latin Gallia, meaning Gaul.
What is the meaning of gallium?
"gallium" (noun) means a soft, bluish metallic chemical element with the symbol Ga and atomic number 31.
