Definition

1. Noun:
   • A heavy grey-white metallic element: Wolfram is a chemical element with the symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a hard, dense, steel-grey to white metal that is highly resistant to heat and wear. Its pure form is used mainly in electrical applications, such as filaments in incandescent light bulbs and contacts in electrical devices.
   • The element tungsten: "Wolfram" is another name for the element tungsten. It is found in several ores, including wolframite and scheelite.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The filament in traditional light bulbs is made of wolfram.
  • Wolfram is prized for its high melting point and strength at elevated temperatures.
  • The mineral wolframite is a primary source of wolfram.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Industrial Context: The term "wolfram" is often used in scientific, metallurgical, and historical contexts. In many modern industrial and commercial contexts, especially in English, the name "tungsten" is more common.
  • The alloy contained a significant percentage of wolfram to increase its hardness.

Variants and Related Words

• Tungsten (n): The more common English name for the element wolfram (W).
  • Tungsten carbide is an extremely hard material used for cutting tools.
• Wolframite (n): An iron manganese tungstate mineral, which is a principal ore of wolfram/tungsten.
  • The mine was a major producer of wolframite during the war.
• Scheelite (n): A calcium tungstate mineral, another important ore of tungsten.
  • Scheelite often fluoresces under ultraviolet light.

Synonyms

• Tungsten: The synonymous and more frequently used term for the metallic element.

Notes on Usage

• The word "wolfram" is of German origin. While it is the official IUPAC name and appears in many scientific texts, "tungsten" (from Swedish) is the prevalent term in everyday English, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom. Both terms refer to the same chemical element (W).

Noun

1. a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite