tantalum
tan tuh luhm
- n a hard grey lustrous metallic element that is highly resistant to corrosion; occurs in niobite and fergusonite and tantalite
- Ever since World War II began, the warring nations have been looking for an adequate source of tantalum.
- When a section of tantalum remains, it acts as a resistor.
- Its soils are packed with diamonds, gold, copper, tantalum (known locally as coltan and used in electronic devices such as cell phones and laptop computers) and uranium.