germanium

noun

ger·​ma·​ni·​um (ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm How to pronounce germanium (audio)
: 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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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 See all Example Sentences for germanium 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Medieval Latin Germania Germany

First Known Use

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of germanium was in 1886

Dictionary Entries Near germanium

Cite this Entry

“Germanium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/germanium. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

germanium

noun
ger·​ma·​ni·​um (ˌ)jər-ˈmā-nē-əm How to pronounce germanium (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce germanium (audio)
: a grayish white hard brittle metalloid element that resembles silicon and is used as a semiconductor
symbol Ge
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on germanium

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!