terbium

IPA/ˈtɜːbiəm/
IPA/ˈtɜːrbiəm/

terbium — noun

1. A soft, silver-grey metal from the rare-earth group of chemical elements. Manufa

1.nounC1
Definition

A soft, silver-grey metal from the rare-earth group of chemical elements. Manufacturers add tiny amounts of terbium to give a green colour to television screens, computer displays, and energy-saving lamps, and to build laser equipment.

Example

The green pixels in a modern television screen use terbium to create their colour.

uncountable noun + use + to-infinitive for purpose

Dr. Okonkwo's laboratory ordered high-purity terbium for the laser experiment.

Common collocations
  • terbium compound
  • terbium phosphor
  • terbium oxide
  • terbium-based
  • high-purity terbium
  • a small amount of terbium

Grammar Patterns

terbium + noun (e.g. terbium compound, terbium phosphor)

Usage Note

As an uncountable noun, terbium does not have a plural form and is not used with a or an. Quantities are expressed with grams, kilograms, or phrases such as a small amount of terbium.

Common Mistakes

The screen contains a terbium.
The screen contains terbium.
Terbium is uncountable and does not take the article a.
Terbium are a rare-earth element.
Terbium is a rare-earth element.
As an uncountable noun, it takes a singular verb.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • a small amount of terbium
  • high-purity terbium
  • terbium-based material

Etymology

SwedishEnglish

Terbium was named after Ytterby, a village in Sweden where the mineral containing it was discovered. It belongs to a group of elements — yttrium, ytterbium, terbium, and erbium — that all take their names from the same place. The Swedish chemist Carl Gustaf Mosander first isolated terbium in 1843.

First known use

1843

1843, in the meaning defined above