curium

noun

cu·​ri·​um ˈkyu̇r-ē-əm 

ˈkyər-

: a metallic radioactive chemical element that is only produced artificially and that is used in spectrometers and in thermoelectric generators on spacecraft see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of curium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The heaviest stable element that can be combined with calcium 48 (20 protons) is curium (96 protons), resulting in livermorium (116 protons). —Max Springer, Scientific American, 24 July 2024

Why are helium, curium, and barium the three main medical elements? —Olivia Muenter, Woman's Day, 23 Mar. 2023

First declassified in 1944 by scientists at the wartime metallurgical laboratory at the University of Chicago, curium has isotopes that produce heat energy which is convertible to electrical energy. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 17 Sep. 2022

Along with americium, the discovery of curium was related to the top-secret Manhattan Project, so no announcement was made until WWII ended. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 17 Sep. 2022

The most stable isotopes of americium and curium decay faster than uranium’s most stable isotopes. —Scientific American, 1 Apr. 2022

More recently, Cotruvo and his colleagues found in the lab that lanmodulin binds tightly and readily to americium and curium—and prefers them to many of its regular dance partners. —Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2021

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Marie & Pierre Curie

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for curium

• tellurium

Kids Definition

curium

noun

cu·​ri·​um ˈkyu̇r-ē-əm 

: a metallic radioactive element artificially produced see element

Medical Definition

curium

noun

cu·​ri·​um ˈkyu̇r-ē-əm 

: a metallic radioactive element produced artificially

—symbol Cm see Chemical Elements Table