germanium

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

germanium
    n 1: a brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting
         metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs
         in germanite and argyrodite [syn: {germanium}, {Ge},
         {atomic number 32}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Germanium \Ger*ma"ni*um\, n. [NL., fr. L. Germania Germany.]
   (Chem.)
   A rare element, discovered in 1885 in a silver ore
   (argyrodite) at Freiberg. It is a brittle, silver-white
   metal, chemically intermediate between the metals and
   nonmetals, resembles tin, and is in general identical with
   the predicted {ekasilicon}. Symbol Ge. Atomic number 32.
   Atomic weight 72.59. It has excellent semiconductor
   properties, and is used in transistors and diodes.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Ekasilicon \Ek`a*sil"i*con\, n. [Skr. [=e]ka one + E. silicon.]
   (Chem.)
   The name of a hypothetical element predicted by Mendeleev and
   afterwards discovered and named {germanium}; -- so called
   because it was a missing analogue of the silicon group. See
   {Germanium}, and cf. {Ekabor}. Also see {periodic table}.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

from The Elements (07Nov00)

germanium
Symbol: Ge
Atomic number: 32
Atomic weight: 72.59
Lustrous hard metalloid element, belongs to group 14 of the periodic
table. Forms a large number of organometallic compounds. Predicted by
Mendeleev in 1871, it was actually found in 1886 by Winkler.