molybdenum
Meanings
Plural: molybdenums
Noun
- a polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in its properties; used to strengthen and harden steel
- A chemical element (symbol Mo) with an atomic number of 42: a silvery metal, not found as a free element, used in steel alloys.
- A single atom of this element.
Origin / Etymology
From New Latin molybdaenum, from molybdaena (“any of various substances resembling lead”), from Ancient Greek μολύβδαινα (molúbdaina, “a plummet, piece of lead”), from μόλυβδος (mólubdos, “lead; graphite”), from an Anatolian word cognate with Lydian 𐤪𐤠𐤭𐤦𐤥𐤣𐤠 (mariwda, “dark”), from Proto-Indo-European *morkʷ-iyo-, from a root *morkʷ- (“dark”), cognate with English murk. Cf. Latin plumbum nigrum 'lead'. The suffix is + -um (“a chemical element”).
Attested since the last quarter of 18th century.
Synonyms
atomic number 42, Mo
Scrabble Score: 20
molybdenum is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL wordmolybdenum is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
molybdenum is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary