Tellurium

tellurium
    n 1: a brittle silver-white metalloid element that is related to
         selenium and sulfur; it is used in alloys and as a
         semiconductor; occurs mainly as tellurides in ores of
         copper and nickel and silver and gold [syn: {tellurium},
         {Te}, {atomic number 52}]
    

Tellurium \Tel*lu"ri*um\, n. [NL., from L. tellus, -uris, the
   earth.] (Chem.)
   A rare nonmetallic element, analogous to sulphur and
   selenium, occasionally found native as a substance of a
   silver-white metallic luster, but usually combined with
   metals, as with gold and silver in the mineral sylvanite,
   with mercury in Coloradoite, etc. Symbol Te. Atomic weight
   125.2.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Graphic tellurium}. (Min.) See {Sylvanite}.

   {Tellurium glance} (Min.), nagyagite; -- called also {black
      tellurium}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

tellurium
Symbol: Te
Atomic number: 52
Atomic weight: 127.60
Silvery metalloid element of group 16. Eight natural isotopes, nine
radioactive isotopes. Used in semiconductors and to a degree in some
steels. Chemistry is similar to {sulphur}. Discovered in 1782 by Franz
Miller.