noun
lithium
LIH-thee-uhm
noun
1
A soft, silvery metal that is the lightest of all metals, used in batteries (symbol Li, atomic number 3).
"Most smartphones run on rechargeable lithium batteries."
2
A form of this element used as a medication to stabilize mood in bipolar disorder.
"His psychiatrist prescribed lithium to help manage his mood swings."
How to Use Lithium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lightweight metal used in batteries, or the same element used as a mood-stabilizing drug.
Common pairings
lithium battery
lithium-ion
lithium carbonate
Word Forms
lithiums plural
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Etymology
From Greek lithos ("stone"), plus the chemical suffix -ium — named because it was first found in mineral (stone) form, unlike other alkali metals discovered in plant ash.