deuterium

noun

deu·​te·​ri·​um dü-ˈtir-ē-əm 

 also  dyü-

: an isotope of hydrogen that has one proton and one neutron in its nucleus and that has twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen

—symbol D

called also heavy hydrogen

Examples of deuterium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2014, Rosetta's analysis of 67P surprised scientists by showing a deuterium level three times higher than Earth's water—the highest level of any comet. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

For a start, Helion will fuse deuterium with helium-3, an ultra-rare and extremely expensive isotope of helium, in a reaction that produces relatively few neutrons. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 June 2023

This core component contains a gas such as deuterium and tritium that is encased in chemical explosives. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 9 Jan. 2025

To scale up inertial fusion, engineers will need to develop lasers capable of repeatedly hitting a fusion fuel target, made of frozen deuterium and tritium, several times per second or so. —Farhat Beg, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek deuteros second

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing deuterium

• deuterium oxide

Rhymes for deuterium

• bacterium
• delirium
• imperium
• puerperium
• venereum
• agrobacterium
• corynebacterium
• mycobacterium
• cyanobacterium
• magisterium
• ministerium

Kids Definition

deuterium

noun

deu·​te·​ri·​um d(y)ü-ˈtir-ē-əm 

: the hydrogen isotope that is twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen

called also heavy hydrogen

Medical Definition

deuterium

noun

deu·​te·​ri·​um d(y)ü-ˈtir-ē-əm 

: an isotope of hydrogen that has one proton and one neutron in its nucleus and that has twice the mass of ordinary hydrogen

called also heavy hydrogen