magnesium

noun mag·ne·sium \mag-ˈnē-zē-əm, -zhəm\

: a silver-white metallic element that produces a very bright white light when it burns

Full Definition of MAGNESIUM

: a silver-white malleable ductile light metallic element that occurs abundantly in nature and is used in metallurgical and chemical processes, in photography, signaling, and pyrotechnics because of the intense white light it produces on burning, and in construction especially in the form of light alloys — see element table

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Origin of MAGNESIUM

New Latin, from magnesia

First Known Use: 1812

Rhymes with MAGNESIUM

trapezium

MAGNESIUM Defined for Kids

magnesium

noun mag·ne·sium \mag-ˈnē-zē-əm, -ˈnē-zhəm\

Definition of MAGNESIUM for Kids

: a silvery white metallic chemical element that is lighter than aluminum and is used in lightweight alloys

Medical Dictionary

magnesium

noun mag·ne·sium \mag-ˈnē-zē-əm, -zhəm\

Medical Definition of MAGNESIUM

: a silver-white light malleable ductile metallic element that occurs abundantly in nature (as in bones and seeds and in the form of chlorophyll in the green parts of plants) and is used in metallurgical and chemical processes, in photography, in signaling, and in the manufacture of pyrotechnics because of the intense white light it produces on burning, and in construction especially in the form of light alloys—symbol Mg; see element table