POTASSIUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does potassium mean? 

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

1. a light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite

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

 Dictionary entry details 

• POTASSIUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A light soft silver-white metallic element of the alkali metal group; oxidizes rapidly in air and reacts violently with water; is abundant in nature in combined forms occurring in sea water and in carnallite and kainite and sylvite

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

atomic number 19; K; potassium

Hypernyms ("potassium" 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 ("potassium" is a substance of...):

carnallite (a white or reddish mineral consisting of hydrous chlorides of potassium and magnesium; used as a fertilizer and as a source of potassium and magnesium)

kainite (a white mineral consisting of magnesium sulphate and potassium chloride; a source of potassium salts; used as a fertilizer)

langbeinite (a mineral consisting of potassium magnesium double sulphate; used as a fertilizer)

brine; saltwater; seawater (water containing salts)

sylvine; sylvite (a mineral consisting of native potassium chloride; an important ore of potassium that is found in sedimentary beds)

 Context examples 

To reach her conclusions, McDonough reviewed studies that looked at the link between potassium and sodium, which has been known to cause hypertension.

(Study: Fruits and Vegetables Can Lower Blood Pressure, VOA)

A chemical substance that contains aluminum sulfate and a second chemical, usually potassium sulfate.

(Alum, NCI Dictionary)

Shear stress signals via a potassium channel and the cytoskeleton, which results in tyrosine phosphorylation of specific proteins, activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and subsequently in activation of Akt kinase.

(Nitric Oxide Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Calcium-activated potassium channel subunit alpha-1 (1236 aa, ~138 kDa) is encoded by the human KCNMA1 gene.

(Calcium-Activated Potassium Channel Subunit Alpha-1, NCI Thesaurus)

This prevents angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction and decreases aldosterone production, thereby preventing aldosterone-stimulated sodium retention and potassium excretion.

(Olmesartan Medoxomil, NCI Thesaurus)

This prevents angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction and interferes with angiotensin II-mediated aldosterone secretion, thereby decreasing aldosterone production and preventing aldosterone-stimulated sodium retention and potassium excretion.

(Olmesartan, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers explored preserving T cells’ stemness with high potassium levels for therapeutic use.

(Harnessing T-cell “stemness” could enhance cancer immunotherapy, National Institutes of Health)

The sodium and potassium absorptions are very broad, which is characteristic of relatively clear atmospheres.

(Multiple metals – and possible signs of water – found in unique exoplanet, University of Cambridge)

The potassium salt form of aminobenzoate, with anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic activities.

(Aminobenzoate Potassium, NCI Thesaurus)

The potassium salt form of pemirolast, a pyrimidinone derivative with antiallergic property.

(Pemirolast Potassium, NCI Thesaurus)