beryllium

noun

be·​ryl·​li·​um bə-ˈri-lē-əm How to pronounce beryllium (audio)
: a chemical element of the alkaline earth metal group with atomic number 4 that occurs naturally in minerals such as beryl and is steel-gray in color, light and strong but brittle, and is used chiefly as a hardening agent in alloys see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of beryllium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Local employees worked for three divisions: Compensation Analysis and Support, which provided scientific support for claims involving Department of Energy workers with cancer caused by exposure to radiation, beryllium and silica. Patricia Gallagher Newberry, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025 At the Santa Monica test location after the rains, the level of beryllium — a metal that is toxic to fish and corals and causes respiratory distress in humans — was more than 10 times the maximum limit allowed. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025 According to the Personal Care Products Council, counterfeit cosmetics can come laced with carcinogens like arsenic, beryllium, and cadmium, as well as dangerous levels of aluminum, mercury, and bacteria. Boutayna Chokrane, Wired News, 8 July 2025 The team has also procured much of the stainless steel structural material but still faces long lead times on beryllium. - YouTube www.youtube.com Slow regulatory guidance is a broader underlying challenge. IEEE Spectrum, 30 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for beryllium

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek bēryllion

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beryllium was circa 1847

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Cite this Entry

“Beryllium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beryllium. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

beryllium

noun
be·​ryl·​li·​um bə-ˈril-ē-əm How to pronounce beryllium (audio)
: a steel-gray light strong brittle toxic metallic element used chiefly to help harden alloys see element

Medical Definition

beryllium

noun
be·​ryl·​li·​um bə-ˈril-ē-əm How to pronounce beryllium (audio)
: a steel-gray light strong brittle toxic bivalent metallic element used chiefly as a hardening agent in alloys
symbol Be
see Chemical Elements Table

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