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cobalt

Definition of cobalt

noun

[mass noun]
  • the chemical element of atomic number 27, a hard silvery-white magnetic metal. (Symbol: Co)
  • cobalt blue: [as modifier]:a cobalt sky

Cobalt is chiefly obtained as a by-product from nickel and copper ores. It is a transition metal similar in many respects to nickel and is mainly used as a component of magnetic alloys and those designed for use at high temperatures

Derivatives

cobaltic

adjective

cobaltous

adjective

Origin:

late 17th century: from German Kobalt 'imp, demon' (because the presence of cobalt-bearing ore made it more difficult to extract silver, and miners believed that it was harmful to the silver ore with which it occurred)

cobalt in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cobalt in the US English dictionary
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