LITHIUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does lithium mean? 

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

1. a soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• LITHIUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A soft silver-white univalent element of the alkali metal group; the lightest metal known; occurs in several minerals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

atomic number 3; Li; lithium

Hypernyms ("lithium" 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.)

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

amblygonite (a white or grey mineral consisting of lithium aluminum phosphate; a source of lithium)

lepidolite (a mineral of the mica group; an important source of lithium)

spodumene (a pyroxene mineral consisting of lithium aluminum silicate; a source of lithium)

zinnwaldite (a mica containing iron and lithium)

 Context examples 

In addition, lithium stimulates granulocytopoiesis and appears to increase the level of pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells by stimulating the release of hematopoietic cytokines and/or directly acting on hematopoietic stem cells.

(Lithium Carbonate, NCI Thesaurus)

Evaux thermal spring water is rich in mineral elements particularly of lithium, strontium and manganese.

(Evaux Spring Water-based Topical Spray, NCI Thesaurus)

A lithium salt, classified as a mood-stabilizing agent.

(Lithium Carbonate, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Nickel sulfide is used in lithium batteries, as a catalyst in the petrochemical industry and is used in the manufacture of silicate-oxide nickel ores.

(Nickel Sulfide, NCI Thesaurus)

Congenital abnormalities, mainly cardiovascular malformations, which develop in a fetus when the mother uses lithium medication during pregnancy.

(Lithium Induced Birth Defect, NCI Thesaurus)

Although the exact mechanism is unclear, lithium might exert its mood-stabilizing effect via reduction of catecholamine concentration mediated through transneuronal membrane transport of sodium ion by sodium-potassium-stimulated adenosine triphosphatase (Na-K-ATPase).

(Lithium Citrate, NCI Thesaurus)

In this case, the nanoparticles used in lithium ion batteries were not intended to kill bacteria.

(Nanoparticles may have bigger impact on the environment than previously thought, National Science Foundation)

At an average charge temperature between 49 and 60 degrees Celsius, the research did not observe any lithium plating.

(Modern Battery Design Can Charge Electric Car in 10 Minutes, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Lithium is usually abundant in younger stars, but over time convection carries lithium to the hot inner regions of a star, where it is destroyed by nuclear reactions.

(NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory Finds Planet That Makes Star Act Deceptively Old, NASA)

In addition to their high lithium transport rates, the niobium tungsten oxides are also simple to make.

(New class of materials could be used to make batteries that charge faster, University of Cambridge)