helium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases (as those found in Texas and Kansas)
    atomic number 2; He.

WordNet


He"li*um noun
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. the sun.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A gaseous element found in the atmospheres of the sun and earth and in some rare minerals. Symbol He, atomic number 2. A noble (or rare) gas.

Webster 1913