cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a toxic bluish-white malleable ductile divalent metallic element used especially in batteries, pigments, and protective platings see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of cadmium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Currently, though, researchers are still working on ensuring that blue and green quantum dot materials can last long enough to make a viable consumer gadget without using cadmium. —Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 22 Apr. 2024

Consumer Reports conducted a series of food safety tests, measuring lead and cadmium amounts in one serving of various chocolate products, including hot chocolate mixes. —Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 10 Jan. 2024

What's really scary is that the acid might also be leaching out other metals, such as copper, zinc, cadmium, lead and even arsenic, that are then carried far downstream. —Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024

The wardens collected samples from the puddles, which tested positive for cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, mercury and iron. —Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 23 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin cadmia zinc oxide, from Greek kadmeia, literally, Theban (earth), from feminine of kadmeios Theban, from Kadmos; from the occurrence of its ores together with zinc oxide

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cadmium

• cadmium sulfide
• cadmium telluride

Kids Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white metallic element used especially in protective coatings see element

Medical Definition

cadmium

noun

cad·​mi·​um ˈkad-mē-əm 

: a bluish white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element used especially in protective platings and in bearing metals

—symbol Cd see Chemical Elements Table