英文字典中文字典Word104.com

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Germanium \Ger*ma"ni*um\, n. [NL., fr. L. Germania Germany.]
(Chem.)
A rare element, discovered in 1885 in a silver ore
(argyrodite) at Freiberg. It is a brittle, silver-white
metal, chemically intermediate between the metals and
nonmetals, resembles tin, and is in general identical with
the predicted {ekasilicon}. Symbol Ge. Atomic number 32.
Atomic weight 72.59. It has excellent semiconductor
properties, and is used in transistors and diodes.
[1913 Webster PJC]


Ekasilicon \Ek`a*sil"i*con\, n. [Skr. [=e]ka one E. silicon.]
(Chem.)
The name of a hypothetical element predicted by Mendeleev and
afterwards discovered and named {germanium}; -- so called
because it was a missing analogue of the silicon group. See
{Germanium}, and cf. {Ekabor}. Also see {periodic table}.
[1913 Webster PJC]