Calcium is a soft white element which is found in bones and teeth, and also in limestone, chalk, and marble.
calcium in British English
(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
C19: from New Latin, from Latin calx lime
calcium in American English
(ˈkælsiəm)
noun
a soft, silver-white, metallic chemical element, one of the alkaline-earth metals, found in limestone, marble, chalk, etc.,always in combination: it is used as a reducing agent and in fertilizer, and is the essential part of bones, shells, and teeth: symbol, Ca; at. no., 20
Word origin
ModL < L calx (gen. calcis), lime < or akin to Gr chalix, pebble + -ium: so named (1808) by Davy
Like most vitamins and minerals calcium needs to be combined with other nutrients to be effective.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
This could outweigh any benefits on bone from calcium supplements.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Present in all natural food especially those rich in calcium and protein.
Mayes, Adrienne The Dictionary of Nutritional Health (1986)
If calcium supplements are taken then they must contain magnesium for best absorption.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley (ed) The Medicine Chest - your family's guide to prescription drugs (1988)
Anyone can easily find the correct answer by taking a calcium supplement for a few weeks themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He had previously been told that cheese was a suitable source of protein and calcium for vegetarians.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Other additives bind to nutrients such as iron and calcium so our bodies are unable to use them.
Westcott, Patsy Alternative Health Care for Women (1991)
To reduce cramps, she should choose foods rich in calcium and magnesium.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Always take calcium and magnesium together as they enhance each other's absorption into the body.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)
There are some vitamins and minerals, but no iron and little calcium.
The Sun (2014)
The grain contains calcium, iron and protein.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It gives us calcium and magnesium for strong bones and skimmed milk has just 187 calories per pint.
The Sun (2010)
MOST of us know that calcium is essential for building strong bones and healthy teeth.
The Sun (2011)
I love carrots and also have a calcium supplement to keep my bones in good shape.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Drinking milk is also a good idea because it is rich in calcium and magnesium, which help muscles to relax.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The lack of vitamin D and calcium follows its poor absorption from the diet through an inflamed intestine.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We're lured by promises of calcium, vitamins and antioxidants.
The Sun (2008)
Its Swiss makers say glucose, calcium and vitamins are the antidote to a heavy night out.
The Sun (2015)
Word lists with
calcium
chemical
In other languages
calcium
British English: calcium /ˈkælsɪəm/ NOUN
Calcium is a soft white element found in bones and teeth, and also in limestone, chalk, and marble.
American English: calcium
Arabic: كَالْسِيُوم
Brazilian Portuguese: cálcio
Chinese: 钙
Croatian: kalcij
Czech: vápník
Danish: calcium
Dutch: calcium
European Spanish: calcio
Finnish: kalsium
French: calcium
German: Kalzium
Greek: ασβέστιο
Italian: calcio
Japanese: カルシウム
Korean: 칼슘
Norwegian: kalsium
Polish: wapń
European Portuguese: cálcio
Romanian: calciu
Russian: кальций
Latin American Spanish: calcio
Swedish: kalcium
Thai: แคลเซียม
Turkish: kalsiyum
Ukrainian: кальцій
Vietnamese: canxi
All related terms of 'calcium'
calcium light
→ limelight (sense 1 )
calcium oxide
a white crystalline base used in the production of calcium hydroxide and bleaching powder and in the manufacture of glass, paper, and steel . Formula: CaO
calcium carbide
a grey salt of calcium used in the production of acetylene (by its reaction with water) and calcium cyanamide . Formula: CaC 2
calcium citrate
the calcium salt of citric acid, used as a food additive
calcium hydrate
a white crystalline slightly soluble alkali with many uses, esp in cement , water softening , and the neutralization of acid soils. Formula: Ca(OH) 2
calcium lactate
a salt of lactic acid. Formula: Ca(C 3 H 5 O 3 ) 2 ·5H 2 O
calcium nitrate
a white, deliquescent solid, Ca(NO 3 ) 2 , used chiefly in the manufacture of fertilizers , fireworks , matches , and explosives
calcium sulfate
Calcium sulfate is a white crystalline salt, used as a tablet diluent .
calcium antagonist
any drug that prevents the influx of calcium ions into cardiac and smooth muscle: used to treat high blood pressure and angina
calcium arsenate
a toxic , white powder, Ca 3 ( AsO 4 ) 2 , used as an insecticide in the form of a spray or dust
calcium carbonate
a white crystalline salt occurring in limestone , chalk , marble , calcite , coral , and pearl : used in the production of lime and cement . Formula: CaCO 3
calcium chloride
a white deliquescent salt occurring naturally in seawater and used in the de-icing of roads and as a drying agent . Formula: CaCl 2
calcium cyanamide
a white crystalline compound formed by heating calcium carbide with nitrogen . It is important in the fixation of nitrogen and can be hydrolysed to ammonia or used as a fertilizer . Formula: CaCN 2
calcium fluoride
a white, crystalline compound, CaF 2 , insoluble in water, occurring in nature as the mineral fluorite: used as a flux in metallurgy and as a decay preventive in dentifrices
calcium hydroxide
a white crystalline slightly soluble alkali with many uses, esp in cement , water softening , and the neutralization of acid soils. Formula: Ca(OH) 2
calcium phosphate
the insoluble nonacid calcium salt of orthophosphoric acid ( phosphoric ( V ) acid): it occurs in bones and is the main constituent of bone ash . Formula: Ca 3 ( PO 4 ) 2
calcium propionate
a white, water-soluble powder, CaC 6 H 10 O 4 , used in bakery products to inhibit the growth of fungi
calcium channel blocker
any drug that prevents the influx of calcium ions into cardiac and smooth muscle : used to treat high blood pressure and angina
dibasic calcium phosphate
Dibasic calcium phosphate is a white powder or crystalline substance used as a dietary supplement and tableting agent.
hydrated lime
a white crystalline slightly soluble alkali with many uses, esp in cement , water softening , and the neutralization of acid soils . Formula: Ca(OH) 2
limelight
If someone is in the limelight , a lot of attention is being paid to them, because they are famous or because they have done something very unusual or exciting .
slaked lime
another name for calcium hydroxide , esp when made by adding water to calcium oxide