'Germanium' definitions:
Definition of 'germanium'
From: WordNet
noun
A brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs in germanite and argyrodite [syn: germanium, Ge, atomic number 32]
Definition of 'Germanium'
From: GCIDE
- Germanium \Ger*ma"ni*um\, n. [NL., fr. L. Germania Germany.] (Chem.) A rare element, discovered in 1885 in a silver ore (argyrodite) at Freiberg. It is a brittle, silver-white metal, chemically intermediate between the metals and nonmetals, resembles tin, and is in general identical with the predicted ekasilicon. Symbol Ge. Atomic number 32. Atomic weight 72.59. It has excellent semiconductor properties, and is used in transistors and diodes. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Definition of 'germanium'
From: GCIDE
- Ekasilicon \Ek`a*sil"i*con\, n. [Skr. [=e]ka one + E. silicon.] (Chem.) The name of a hypothetical element predicted by Mendeleev and afterwards discovered and named germanium; -- so called because it was a missing analogue of the silicon group. See Germanium, and cf. Ekabor. Also see periodic table. [1913 Webster +PJC]
Definition of 'Germanium'
From: Elements
- Symbol: Ge
- Atomic number: 32
- Atomic weight: 72.59
- Lustrous hard metalloid element, belongs to group 14 of the periodic table. Forms a large number of organometallic compounds. Predicted by Mendeleev in 1871, it was actually found in 1886 by Winkler.