indium Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a rare soft silvery metallic element; occurs in small quantities in sphalerite
    atomic number 49; In.

WordNet

In"di*um noun
Etymology
NL. See Indigo.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) A rare metallic element, 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. Symbol In. Atomic weight, 113.4.

Webster 1913