dilithium
noun/daɪˈlɪθiəm/
Etymology From di- + lithium.
1
Chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences The diatomic molecule Li₂ found in the gas phase.
2
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences Especially, In compounds Two lithium atoms in a molecule.
3
Literature, Media, Publishing, Science fiction A fictional crystalline mineral in the Star Trek franchise, described as an essential component of anti-matter energy generation systems.
- “Mr. Mayor, we're back from the dilithium crystal mine.” “What a haul! This will power the colony for months!”2016 May 2, Jordan Blum & Parker Deay, “The Nova Centauris-burgh Board of Tourism Presents: American Dad” (1:11 from the start), in American Dad!, season 13, episode 14:
- Fifty years later and it seems like we should—I don’t know if dilithium crystals are out there—but, you know, we should be getting some breakthroughs.2016 October, Scott Dadich, quoting Barack Obama, “Barack Obama Talks AI, Robo Cars, and the Future of the World”, in Wired, →ISSN:
- Related terms
- lithium, trilithium