molybdenum
noun
mo·lyb·de·num
mə-ˈlib-də-nəm 
: a metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in many properties, is used especially in strengthening and hardening steel, and is a trace element in plant and animal metabolism see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of molybdenum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When the Climax molybdenum mine effectively shut down in the 1980s, leaving only skeleton staff on site, thousands of miners lost their jobs.
—
John Meyer, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
The Rio Tinto Kennecott website says the facility mines copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and tellurium.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Plant nutrients that are needed in much lower quantities are boron, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur and zinc.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Peru is the top source of U.S. molybdenum ore and concentrates, accounting for nearly two-thirds of imports, followed by Mexico (18 percent) and Chile (12 percent).
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
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John Meyer, The Denver Post, 3 Mar. 2025
The Rio Tinto Kennecott website says the facility mines copper, gold, silver, molybdenum and tellurium.
—Kate S. Petersen, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
Plant nutrients that are needed in much lower quantities are boron, calcium, chlorine, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, sulfur and zinc.
—Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Mar. 2025
Peru is the top source of U.S. molybdenum ore and concentrates, accounting for nearly two-thirds of imports, followed by Mexico (18 percent) and Chile (12 percent).
—Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for molybdenum
Cite this Entry
“Molybdenum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/molybdenum. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
molybdenum
noun
mo·lyb·de·num
mə-ˈlib-də-nəm
: a metallic element used in steel alloys to give greater strength and hardness see element
Medical Definition
molybdenum
noun
mo·lyb·de·num
-də-nəm
: a metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in many properties, is used especially in strengthening and hardening steel, and is a trace element in plant and animal metabolism
—symbol Mo
see Chemical Elements Table
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