rare-earth element
1
6.3
- noun
- /ˈrɛr ˈɜrθ ˈɛlɪmənt/
- Specialized
:
elemento de tierras raras
- Both companies were developing rare earth element mines in Australia, and both had lost their financing.
- rare-earth element lanthanum
- rare-earth elements mined
- world's rare-earth elements
We I find out the other day that the government wants a lot of what we call rare earth elements because they go on all kinds of devices.
- We I find out the other day that the government wants a lot of what we call rare earth elements because they go on all kinds of devices.
Examples
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Interestingly, the rare-earth element yttrium ranks higher than the far more common element copper using either approach.
Academic text (2005) -
One of the things NEA is really good for is rare earth elements, which are hard to measure by other methods.
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On the other hand, we do not call them 'rare earth' elements for nothing.
Academic text (2010) -
Also, putting in the rare earth element just increases its value.
Blog text (14) -
We are increasingly dependent on these devices that are made with rare earth elements that are hard to mine and will eventually run out.
Blog text (14) -
It currently produces more than 90 percent of the world's rare earth elements.
Academic text (2010) -
Such alternative energy sources as solar and wind use "rare earth" elements like dysprosium and neodymium to make better magnets to generate power.
Academic text (2010) -
Of course, it remains to be seen whether U.S. Rare Earths can produce rare earth elements from the region and help loosen the 95 percent grip that China has on the rare earth market.
Blog text (18) -
Scientists naturally expected the compositions of such meteorites to mirror Earth's, especially in neodymium and other rare-earth elements that are refractory enough to avoid boiling off the planet during its formation.
Academic text (2005) -
The production of rare-earth elements is crucial for the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries.
Synonyms
11
6.6
A group of metals used in electronics and industry
1
9.9
A group of fifteen metals like cerium used in magnets and lasers
A metal with an atomic number from 57 to 71
One of fifteen metals used to make magnets and electronic parts
Surface Forms
Morphology
rare-earth + element
A B1 learner who knows 'rare', 'earth' and 'element' can infer that this refers to an element associated with 'rare earth' materials (i.e., a scarce type of element from the earth), so they would get a general idea. However, the precise scientific classification (the lanthanide series) and the specialised technological uses are lexicalized and technical, so the full meaning is not directly predictable from the parts alone.
Etymology
Rare-earth element comes from old chemists who found certain mineral powders in only a few places and called them rare; they used the word earth for those mineral substances. That's why today the name refers to the special 'metals' used in phones, magnets, and other high-tech items.