manganese

[ mang-guh-nees, -neez ]
/ ˈmæŋ gəˌnis, -ˌniz /

noun Chemistry.

a hard, brittle, grayish-white, metallic element, an oxide of which, MnO2 (manganese dioxide), is a valuable oxidizing agent: used chiefly as an alloying agent in steel to give it toughness. Symbol: Mn; atomic weight: 54.938; atomic number: 25; specific gravity: 7.2 at 20°C.

Origin of manganese

1670–80; < French manganèse < Italian manganese, alteration of Medieval Latin magnesia magnesia

Words nearby manganese

mangabey, mangalore, mangaluru, mangan-, manganate, manganese, manganese bronze, manganese nodule, manganese spar, manganese steel, manganese violet

Example sentences from the Web for manganese

British Dictionary definitions for manganese

manganese
/ (ˈmæŋɡəˌniːz) /

noun

a brittle greyish-white metallic element that exists in four allotropic forms, occurring principally in pyrolusite and rhodonite: used in making steel and ferromagnetic alloys. Symbol: Mn; atomic no: 25; atomic wt: 54.93805; valency: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, or 7; relative density: 7.21–7.44; melting pt: 1246±3°C; boiling pt: 2062°C

Word Origin for manganese

C17: via French from Italian manganese, probably altered form of Medieval Latin magnesia

Medical definitions for manganese

manganese
[ măng′gə-nēz′, -nēs′ ]

n. Symbol Mn

A brittle metallic element, having several allotropes. It is alloyed with steel to increase strength. Atomic number 25.

Scientific definitions for manganese

manganese
[ măng′gə-nēz′ ]

Mn

A grayish-white, hard, brittle metallic element that occurs in several different minerals and in nodules on the ocean floor. It is used to increase the hardness and strength of steel and other important alloys. Atomic number 25; atomic weight 54.9380; melting point 1,244°C; boiling point 1,962°C; specific gravity 7.21 to 7.44; valence 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7. See Periodic Table.