caesium
/ˈsiːzɪəm
/(US cesium)
noun [mass noun]
The chemical element of atomic number 55, a soft, silvery, extremely reactive metal. It belongs to the alkali metal group and occurs as a trace element in some rocks and minerals. (Symbol: Cs) Those that produce a measurable spectrum when subjected to flame include, but are not limited to, lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, zinc, and cadmium....
- They also can form condensates out of numerous different elements, including sodium, potassium, lithium, cesium, hydrogen and helium.
- These elements - lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and francium - all react with water to give solutions that change the color of a vegetable dye from red to blue.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Latin caesius 'greyish-blue' (because it has characteristic lines in the blue part of the spectrum).
- stepmother
- stepmum
- stepney
- step on it (or step on the gas)
- step on someone's toes
- step out
- step out of line
- step out on
- step-parent
- step-parenthood
- step-parenting
- steppe
- stepped
- stepper
- stepping stone
- stepping-up
- step response
- steps
- stepsister
- step something down
- step something up
- stepson
- step up to the plate
- step wedge
- stepwell