germanium

noun

ger·​ma·​ni·​um (ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm 

: a grayish-white hard brittle metalloid element that resembles silicon and is used especially in optical and semiconductor materials and as a catalyst see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of germanium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Exports other metals, and the equipment used to produce them, have also been restricted by the Chinese Government, including germanium, gallium, and some rare earths such as neodymium and praseodymium used to make permanent magnets which also have industrial and military uses. —Tim Treadgold, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

As part of those talks, senior U.S. officials have been working with their Japanese counterparts on a strategy to ensure adequate supplies of critical minerals, some of the people said, especially since China imposed restrictions on the exports of gallium, germanium and graphite last year. —Mahnoor Khan, Fortune Asia, 2 Sep. 2024

Beijing has also tightened exports of some graphite products, and imposed restrictions on exports of gallium and germanium products widely used in the semiconductor industry. —Reuters, CNN, 15 Aug. 2024

Last year, China slapped export controls on gallium and germanium — rare earths essential for manufacturing semiconductors — in response to restrictions by the US, the Netherlands, and Japan on the exports of some semiconductor equipment to China. —Hanna Ziady, CNN, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin Germania Germany

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

germanium

noun

ger·​ma·​ni·​um (ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm 

: a grayish white hard brittle element used especially as a semiconductor see element

Medical Definition

germanium

noun

ger·​ma·​ni·​um (ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm 

: a grayish white hard brittle metalloid element that resembles silicon and is used as a semiconductor

—symbol Ge see Chemical Elements Table