erbium

noun

er·​bi·​um ˈər-bē-əm 

: a metallic chemical element of the rare-earth group with atomic number 68 that is used especially in lasers, infrared light filters, and optical fibers see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of erbium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Other treatments for acne scars include in-office treatments like chemical peels, which work for light and mild acne scars, as well as laser treatments like erbium laser resurfacing or radiofrequency microneedling, and even filler. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Feb. 2025

The extra proton changes the erbium atom to thulium and releases energy. —Bayarbadrakh Baramsai, IEEE Spectrum, 27 Feb. 2022

The groups started with gases of dysprosium and erbium atoms, which are intrinsically magnetic enough to act like little bar magnets. —Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024

The practical choice of materials for solar cells are lanthanides like ytterbium or erbium, which have multiple energy levels for electrons to occupy. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2022

Four of those elements are named in tribute to the village (ytterbium, erbium, terbium, yttrium). —Mark Lorch, Discover Magazine, 9 June 2016

The UltraClear laser operates at the 2,910-nanometer wavelength using an erbium diode fiber, purportedly at the sweet spot where both pain (0–3 on a scale of 1–10) and downtime (roughly four days) are minimized. —Jessica Ourisman, Harper's BAZAAR, 23 June 2023

Three of those elements—ytterbium, erbium, and terbium—were simply given additional variants on the name of Ytterby, while the other three were named holmium (for Stockholm), scandium, and thulium (both from the Latin for Scandinavia), in the nationalistic fashion then in favor. —Hugh Aldersey-Williams, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2011

The practical choice of materials for solar cells are lanthanides like ytterbium or erbium, which have multiple energy levels for electrons to occupy. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Ytterby, Sweden

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for erbium

• terbium

Kids Definition

erbium

noun

er·​bi·​um ˈər-bē-əm 

: a soft rare metallic element see element

Medical Definition

erbium

noun

er·​bi·​um ˈər-bē-əm 

: a metallic element of the rare-earth group that occurs with yttrium

—symbol Er see Chemical Elements Table