Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A soft, malleable, silvery-white metallic element found primarily in ores of zinc and tin, used in making fusible alloys, in plating aircraft bearings and mirrors, and in compounds for making liquid crystal displays and transistors. Atomic number 49; atomic weight 114.82; melting point 156.60°C; boiling point 2,072°C; specific gravity 7.31; valence 1, 2, 3. cross-reference: Periodic Table.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Chemical symbol, In; atomic weight, 113.7. A rare metallic element found in the zinc-blende of Freiberg, Saxony, and some other localities, and discovered by means of the spectroscope: so called from its giving a blue line in the spectrum.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Chem.) A rare metallic element, of atomic number 49, discovered in certain ores of zinc, by means of its characteristic spectrum of two indigo blue lines; hence, its name. In appearance it resembles zinc, being white or lead gray, soft, malleable and easily fusible, but in its chemical relation it resembles aluminium or gallium (valence +3). Symbol In. Atomic weight, 114.82.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A metallic chemical element (symbol In) with an atomic number of 49.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[ind(igo) + –ium (so called from the indigo-blue lines in its spectrum).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From ind(igo) + -ium, from the indigo lines in its spectrum

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Examples

  • The researchers say that forming the cement into thin membranes would make it nearly transparent, making it an ideal substitute material for rare metals such as indium, which is used in plasma and liquid-crystal displays.

    Electrically Conductive Cement | Impact Lab 2007

  • The same goes for many other rare metals such as indium, which is being consumed in unprecedented quantities for making LCDs for flat-screen TVs, and the tantalum needed to make compact electronic devices like cellphones. . .

    Photovoltaics: (some more) depressing news 2008

  • The same goes for many other rare metals such as indium, which is being consumed in unprecedented quantities for making LCDs for flat-screen TVs, and the tantalum needed to make compact electronic devices like cellphones. . .

    Photovoltaics: (some more) depressing news 2008

  • As cracks formed in the anode, they tore open the plastic shells, releasing the contents within: a material called indium gallium arsenide.

    Wired Top Stories Devin Powell 2011

  • Computer simulations designed to investigate the so-called indium/gallium puzzle have highlighted a new way of increasing the efficiency of CIGS thin-film solar cells.

    PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2010

  • TGR: Back in February you were optimistic about a metal called indium (see Blue Phoenix posting).

    Precious Metals Sector and Stocks Analysis from Seeking Alpha The Gold Report 2010

  • Although touted as the future of solar power, those and most other multiple-junction cells owe their performance to the rare metal indium, which is far from abundant.

    New Scientist - Earth 2009

  • Although touted as the future of solar power, those and most other multiple-junction cells owe their performance to the rare metal indium, which is far from abundant.

    New Scientist - Earth 2009

  • Currently, a ceramic material called indium tin oxide (ITO) is used in these applications.

    PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories 2009

  • Although touted as the future of solar power, those and most other multiple-junction cells owe their performance to the rare metal indium, which is far from abundant.

    EcoEarth.Info Environment RSS Newsfeed 2009

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  • In.

    December 16, 2007