| tungsten | 1. <chemistry, element> A rare element of the chromium group found in certain minerals, as wolfram and scheelite, and isolated as a heavy steel-gray metal which is very hard and infusible. It has both acid and basic properties. When alloyed in small quantities with steel, it greatly increases its hardness. 2 <chemical> Scheelite, or calcium tungstate. Tungsten ocher, or Tungstic ocher, tungstate. Abbreviation: W Origin: Sw. Tungsten (cf. Dan. Tungsteen, G. Tungstein); tung heavy (akin to Dan. Tung, Icel. Thungr) + sten stone. (Wolframium). (30 Mar 1998) |
|---|---|
| tungsten arc lamp | <apparatus> A lamp having highly compressed tungsten elements. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tungsten carbide | <chemical> One of the hardest known materials, used as an abrasive and in the manufacture of dental cutting instruments. (05 Mar 2000) |
| tungsten compounds | Inorganic compounds that contain tungsten as an integral part of the molecule. (12 Dec 1998) |