English Explanatory Dictionary

helium

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. The second-lightest chemical element (symbol He), with an atomic number of 2 and atomic weight of 4.002602, a colorless, odorless and inert noble gas.
  2. A form or sample of the element.

Pronunciation

hē'lē-əm /ˈhiː.li.əm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-helium.wav En-us-helium.ogg

Word forms

helium heliums

Etymology

From New Latin helium, from Ancient Greek ἥλιος (hḗlios, “sun”) (because its presence was first theorised in the Sun's atmosphere) with the suffix + -ium. Probably coined by Norman Lockyer. This suffix is unusual, because it is usually used only for metallic elements. It is likely that Lockyer, being an astronomer, was unaware of the usual chemical conventions.

Synonyms

E939 when used as a packaging gas

Related words

helio- Helios

Derived words

antihelium antiprotonic helium dihelium heliair helide helikite helion helionium heliox helium-3 helium-4 helium balloon helium burning helium dating helium descrambler helium flash helium fusion helium hydride helium I heliumide helium II heliumless heliumlike helium speech helium star helium unscrambler helium variable helonium hydridohelium hyperhelium liquid helium nonhelium orthohelium parahelium radiohelium
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