lutetium
/luːˈtiːʃɪəm
/ /luːˈtiːsɪəm/(also lutecium)
noun [mass noun]
The chemical element of atomic number 71, a rare silvery-white metal of the lanthanide series. (Symbol: Lu) The gadolinium and lutetium exceptions result in a marked increase in radius compared to the slight decrease in metal atom radius for the other elements....
- This finding provides support for the ongoing development of more solubilized versions of lutetium texaphyrin as photosensitizers for use in the diagnosis and PDT of cancerous disease.
- Because lutetium is so expensive (currently, about $75 a gram), it has almost no commercial use.
Origin
Early 20th century: from French lutécium, from Latin Lutetia, the ancient name of Paris, the home of its discoverer.
Rhymes
- unbounded
- unboundedly
- unboundedness
- unbowed
- unbox
- unboxed
- unboxing
- unbrace
- unbraid
- unbranched
- unbranded
- unbreachable
- unbreakable
- unbreathable
- unbribable
- unbridgeable
- neuroembryological
- neuroembryologist
- neuroembryology
- neuroendocrine
- neuroendocrinology
- neuroenteric
- neuroepidermal
- neuroepithelial
- neuroepithelium