lanthanum
noun/ˈlænθənəm/
Etymology From Ancient Greek λανθάνω (lanthánō, “to escape notice”) + -um (“a chemical element”), because it had gone long undetected in mineral ores.
1
A chemical element (symbol La) with an atomic number of 57: a soft, ductile, silvery-white metal that tarnishes slowly when exposed to air.
2
An atom of this element.
- Synonyms
- La
- Derived terms
- dilanthanum, lanthanian, lanthanum carbonate, lanthanum chloride, lanthanum glass, lanthanum nitrate, lanthanum oxide, lanthanum oxybromide, lanthanum sesquioxide, organolanthanum, radiolanthanum
- Related terms
- lanthana, lanthanate, lanthanide, lanthanite, lanthanoid, lanthanon, Fosrenol, rare earth