lanthanium

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A form of lanthanum — A chemical element (symbol La) with an atomic number of 57: a soft, ductile, silvery-white metal that tarnishes slowly when exposed to air.

OriginAncient Greek λανθάνω →
Scrabble 15
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Meanings

nounlanthanium (countable and uncountable, plural lanthaniums)

plural lanthaniums

  1. UKalternativecountableuncountableAlternative form of lanthanum.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekλανθάνω“to escape notice”
  2. Englishlanthanium

From Ancient Greek λανθάνω (lanthánō, “to escape notice”), because it had gone long undetected in mineral ores; + -ium (“a chemical element”).

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

lanthanium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanthanium

MLA

“lanthanium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanthanium. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lanthanium,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lanthanium.

Source: lanthanium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.