periodic table

[ peer-ee-od-ik, peer- ]
/ ˈpɪər iˈɒd ɪk, ˌpɪər- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR periodic table ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Chemistry.

a table illustrating the periodic system, in which the chemical elements, formerly arranged in the order of their atomic weights and now according to their atomic numbers, are shown in related groups.

Origin of periodic table

First recorded in 1890–95

Words nearby periodic table

periodic motion, periodic neutropenia, periodic paralysis, periodic sentence, periodic system, periodic table, periodic table of the elements, periodic tenancy, periodical, periodical cicada, periodicity

British Dictionary definitions for periodic table

periodic table
/ (ˌpɪərɪˈɒdɪk) /

noun

a table of the elements, arranged in order of increasing atomic number, based on the periodic law. Elements having similar chemical properties and electronic structures appear in vertical columns (groups)

Medical definitions for periodic table

periodic table

n.

A tabular arrangement of the elements according to their atomic numbers so that elements with similar chemical properties are in the same column.

Scientific definitions for periodic table

Periodic Table

A table in which the chemical elements are arranged in order of increasing atomic number. Elements with similar properties are arranged in the same column (called a group), and elements with the same number of electron shells are arranged in the same row (called a period).