tantalum
noun
tan·ta·lum
ˈtan-tə-ləm 
: a gray-white ductile acid-resisting metallic element found combined in rare minerals (such as tantalite and columbite) and used especially in electronic components see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of tantalum in a Sentence
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The Central African nation is also endowed with the world’s largest reserves of cobalt – used to produce batteries that power cell phones and electric vehicles – and coltan, which is refined into tantalum and has a variety of applications in phones and other devices.
—
Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
The eastern Congo region in particular has many valuable resources, including rare minerals such as tantalum and tungsten.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
To protect copper interconnects, the thin wires are lined with other materials, such as tantalum nitride or even cobalt.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2018
That tantalum fell from space 4.6 billion years ago, along with much of Earth’s water.
—Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
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Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 27 June 2025
The eastern Congo region in particular has many valuable resources, including rare minerals such as tantalum and tungsten.
—Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 25 June 2025
To protect copper interconnects, the thin wires are lined with other materials, such as tantalum nitride or even cobalt.
—IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2018
That tantalum fell from space 4.6 billion years ago, along with much of Earth’s water.
—Robin George Andrews, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for tantalum
Cite this Entry
“Tantalum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tantalum. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tantalum
noun
tan·ta·lum
ˈtant-ᵊl-əm
: a gray-white metallic element found in rare minerals and used especially in electronic devices see element
Medical Definition
tantalum
noun
tan·ta·lum
ˈtant-ᵊl-əm
: a hard ductile gray-white acid-resisting metallic element of the vanadium family found combined in rare minerals and sometimes used in surgical implants and sutures
—symbol Ta
see Chemical Elements Table
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