noun
polonium
puh-LOH-nih-uhm
Polonium (noun) means a rare, intensely radioactive chemical element, symbol Po, atomic number 84. Example: “Polonium is so radioactive that a single gram can heat itself to hundreds of degrees.”
noun
1
A rare, intensely radioactive chemical element, symbol Po, atomic number 84.
"Polonium is so radioactive that a single gram can heat itself to hundreds of degrees."
"Traces of polonium were famously used to poison a former Russian spy in 2006."
How to use polonium
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA dangerously radioactive element, mostly known today for its use as a poison rather than any everyday application.
Common pairings
polonium poisoning
radioactive polonium
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Word forms
- Plural
- poloniums
Fill the gap
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_____ is so radioactive that a single gram can heat itself to hundreds of degrees.
Etymology
Named by Marie Curie in 1898 after Poland (Latin Polonia), her home country, to draw attention to its political situation.
Class of 1898
polonium joined the language around 1898.
See the full Class of 1898 →
Synonyms
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Po
atomic number 84
Related words
Rhymes for polonium
See all rhymes for polonium →Frequently asked questions
What does “polonium” mean?
The word “polonium” means a rare, intensely radioactive chemical element, symbol Po, atomic number 84. In plain terms, a dangerously radioactive element, mostly known today for its use as a poison rather than any everyday application.
How do you pronounce “polonium”?
“Polonium” is pronounced puh-LOH-nih-uhm (/pəˈloʊ.ni.əm/ in IPA).
How do you use “polonium” in a sentence?
Here is “polonium” used in a sentence: “Polonium is so radioactive that a single gram can heat itself to hundreds of degrees.”
What part of speech is “polonium”?
“Polonium” is a noun.
Where does the word “polonium” come from?
The word “polonium” dates back to around 1898 and comes from Latin. Named by Marie Curie in 1898 after Poland (Latin Polonia), her home country, to draw attention to its political situation.
