germanium

/dʒɜrməˈniəm/

Definitions

1. noun

A hard, silver-white, brittle, and crystalline chemical element, used as a semiconductor in electronic devices.

“The new computer chip was made from a thin layer of germanium to increase its processing speed.”

2. noun

A chemical element found in zinc ores and used in semiconductors and solar panels.

“The researchers discovered a new method of extracting germanium from zinc ore to make it more cost-effective.”

Synonyms

  • element
  • semiconductor

Antonyms

  • insulator