calcium
[ kal-see-uh m ]
/ ˈkæl si əm /
noun Chemistry, Biology.
a silver-white divalent metal, occurring combined in limestone, chalk, gypsum, etc., occurring also in vertebrates and other animals, as a component of bone, skeletal mass, shell, etc., and as a necessary element in nerve conduction, heartbeat, muscle contraction, and many other physiological functions. Symbol: Ca; atomic weight: 40.08; atomic number: 20; specific gravity: 1.55 at 20°C.
Words nearby calcium
Example sentences from the Web for calcium
British Dictionary definitions for calcium
calcium
/ (ˈkælsɪəm) /
noun
a malleable silvery-white metallic element of the alkaline earth group; the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust (3.6 per cent), occurring esp as forms of calcium carbonate. It is an essential constituent of bones and teeth and is used as a deoxidizer in steel. Symbol: Ca; atomic no: 20; atomic wt: 40.078; valency: 2; relative density: 1.55; melting pt: 842±2°C; boiling pt: 1494°C
Word Origin for calcium
C19: from New Latin, from Latin
calx lime
Medical definitions for calcium
calcium
[ kăl′sē-əm ]
n. Symbol Ca
A soft metallic element that is a basic component of animals and plants and constitutes approximately 3 percent of Earth's crust. It occurs naturally in limestone, gypsum, and fluorite. Atomic number 20.
Scientific definitions for calcium
calcium
[ kăl′sē-əm ]
Ca
A silvery-white, moderately hard metallic element of the alkaline-earth group that occurs in limestone and gypsum. It is a basic component of leaves, bones, teeth, and shells, and is essential for the normal growth and development of most animals and plants. Calcium is used to make plaster, cement, and alloys. Atomic number 20; atomic weight 40.08; melting point 842 to 848°C; boiling point 1,487°C; specific gravity 1.55; valence 2. See Periodic Table.