aluminum

IPA/əˈluː.mə.nəm/
KK[əlˈumənəm]IPA/əˈluː.mə.nəm/

aluminum — noun

1. the way people in the United States spell aluminium, a light silver-coloured met

1.nounA2
Definition

the way people in the United States spell aluminium, a light silver-coloured metal used for making cans, cooking equipment, and aircraft parts.

Example

The cook wrapped the fish in aluminum foil before putting it in the oven.

collocation: aluminum foil

Takeshi crushed the empty aluminum can and dropped it into the recycling bin.

collocation: aluminum can

Common collocations
  • aluminum foil
  • aluminum can
  • aluminum siding
Synonyms
  • aluminium

    the same metal, spelled with -ium; standard in British English and most international contexts

Usage Note

This spelling is standard in the United States and Canada. Outside North America, the spelling aluminium is preferred.

Common Mistakes

I need some aluminium foil for the recipe.' (in US English)
I need some aluminum foil for the recipe.
Aluminum is the standard spelling in American English; aluminium is the British and international spelling.

2. a soft, shiny, silvery metal that stays bright and does not rust, used in many e

2.nounB1
Definition

a soft, shiny, silvery metal that stays bright and does not rust, used in many everyday products including drink cans, pots and pans, window frames, and aircraft and vehicle parts.

Example

The engineer chose aluminum for the aircraft frame because it is both strong and lightweight.

subject is a professional; reason clause clarifies property

Recycling just one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.

collocation: recycle + aluminum can

Common collocations
  • recycled aluminum
  • aluminum alloy
  • melted aluminum
  • scrap aluminum
Synonyms
  • aluminium

    the same element; this is the spelling used in British English and by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

Usage Note

Aluminum is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb. It is frequently used with materials-science and recycling vocabulary.

Common Mistakes

Aluminum are widely used in construction.
Aluminum is widely used in construction.
Aluminum is uncountable and takes a singular verb.
Tin foil' (when referring to modern kitchen wrap)
Aluminum foil
Almost all kitchen 'tin foil' sold today is actually made of aluminum, not tin.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

Aluminum (also spelled aluminium) is a lightweight, silver-coloured metal that resists rust and is easy to shape. Tin is a softer, heavier metal with a lower melting point — it was historically used for kitchen foil, but most modern 'tin foil' is actually aluminum. Steel is much stronger and heavier than aluminum, making it the preferred material for building frames and tools, though it rusts unless treated. Copper is heavier than aluminum and conducts heat and electricity even better, which is why it is used for electrical wiring and high-end cookware. When choosing materials, aluminum offers the best balance of light weight, strength, and corrosion resistance for items like aircraft parts and drink cans.

aluminum ↗aluminium ↗tin ↗steel ↗copper ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • aluminum foil
  • aluminum can
  • aluminum alloy
  • aluminum frame
  • aluminum siding
  • recycled aluminum
  • scrap aluminum
  • melted aluminum

Phrases

  • sheet of aluminum
  • piece of aluminum
  • roll of aluminum foil

Prepositions

  • of aluminum
  • made from aluminum
  • made of aluminum

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The word aluminum traces back to the Latin 'alumen' (alum), a bitter mineral salt used since ancient times for dyeing and medicine. When the element was identified in the early 1800s, the British chemist Sir Humphry Davy proposed the name 'aluminum'. Later scientists changed it to 'aluminium' to match other elements ending in -ium (like potassium and sodium). The US spelling 'aluminum' preserved Davy's original form and has remained the standard in American English ever since. The metal itself was not produced in pure form until 1825 and was once more valuable than gold.