tungsten

Definition

A rare metallic chemical element (symbol W, from Latin wolframium) with an atomic number of 74.

Etymology

Borrowed from Swedish tungsten (“scheelite”), from tung (“heavy”) + sten (“stone”).

Example Sentences

• "So far they have built and used a prototype robot to make millionth-of-a-meter scratches in aluminum with a fine tungsten needle."
• "Which makes the concept known as Rods From God the ultimate form of kinetic weaponry. This theoretical weapon would drop telephone pole sized rods of dense tungsten from a satellite in orbit."
• "We have several business houses where tungstens are used as window lights only, and find that in nearly every one the wiring was arranged to get more light, leaving the consumption about the same."

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