halogen

[ hal-uh-juh n, -jen, hey-luh- ]
/ ˈhæl ə dʒən, -ˌdʒɛn, ˈheɪ lə- /
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noun Chemistry.

any of the electronegative elements, fluorine, chlorine, iodine, bromine, and astatine, that form binary salts by direct union with metals.

Origin of halogen

First recorded in 1835–45; halo- + -gen

OTHER WORDS FROM halogen

ha·log·e·nous [ha-loj-uh-nuh s] /hæˈlɒdʒ ə nəs/, adjective

Words nearby halogen

halo-, halobacteria, halobiont, halocarbon, halocline, halogen, halogen lamp, halogenate, haloid, halolike, halometer

Words related to halogen

bleach, disinfectant

Example sentences from the Web for halogen

British Dictionary definitions for halogen

halogen
/ (ˈhæləˌdʒɛn) /

noun

any of the chemical elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. They are all monovalent and readily form negative ions

Derived forms of halogen

halogenoid, adjective halogenous (həˈlɒdʒɪnəs), adjective

Word Origin for halogen

C19: from Swedish; see halo-, -gen

Medical definitions for halogen

halogen
[ hăl′ə-jən ]

n.

Any of a group of five chemically related nonmetallic elements including fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine.

Scientific definitions for halogen

halogen
[ hăl′ə-jən ]

Any of a group of five nonmetallic elements with similar properties. The halogens are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, and astatine. Because they are missing an electron from their outermost shell, they react readily with most metals to form salts. See Periodic Table.