BARIUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does barium mean? 

• BARIUM (noun)
  The noun BARIUM has 1 sense:

1. a soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite

  Familiarity information: BARIUM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BARIUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A soft silvery metallic element of the alkali earth group; found in barite

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

atomic number 56; Ba; barium

Hypernyms ("barium" is a kind of...):

metal; metallic element (any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "barium"):

baryta (any of several compounds of barium)

Holonyms ("barium" is a substance of...):

barite; barium sulphate; barytes; heavy spar (a white or colorless mineral (BaSO4); the main source of barium)

Derivation:

baric (of or relating to or containing barium)

 Context examples 

It is mixed with water and used in barium swallows and barium enemas to help show parts of the digestive system on an x-ray.

(Barium sulfate, NCI Dictionary)

The barium sulfate coats and outlines the inner walls of the esophagus and the upper GI tract so that they can be seen on the x-ray pictures.

(Barium swallow, NCI Dictionary)

Barium sulfate is quite insoluble in water, and is used as a radiopaque agent to diagnose gastrointestinal medical conditions.

(Barium sulfate, NCI Thesaurus)

A liquid that contains barium sulfate (a form of the silver-white metallic element barium).

(Barium solution, NCI Dictionary)

Both Cs 137 and its metastable nuclear isomer, barium-137m, emit gamma radiation of moderate energy and so are used in sterilization procedures in the food industry or in hospital environments.

(Cesium Cs 137, NCI Thesaurus)

However, the biogeochemical cycle of barium, which is closely related to the carbon cycle, is not well constrained, being a mystery how barium precipitates in ocean waters.

(Researchers discover the oceanic precipitation mechanism for barium, which is a proxy for marine bacterial productivity, University of Granada)

The barium sulfate coats and outlines the inner wall of the esophagus so that it can be seen on the x-ray pictures.

(Contrast esophagram, NCI Dictionary)

Barium sulfate is taken by mouth or given rectally.

(Barium sulfate, NCI Thesaurus)

A series of x-ray pictures of the esophagus taken after a patient drinks a liquid containing barium sulfate (a form of the silver-white metallic element barium).

(Contrast esophagram, NCI Dictionary)

The x-ray pictures are taken after the patient drinks a liquid that contains barium sulfate (a form of the silver-white metallic element barium).

(Barium swallow, NCI Dictionary)