molybdenum

 
Pronunciation: /məˈlɪbdənəm/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the chemical element of atomic number 42, a brittle silver-grey metal of the transition series, used in some alloy steels. (Symbol: Mo)

Origin:

early 19th century: modern Latin, earlier molybdena (originally denoting a salt of lead), from Greek molubdaina 'plummet', from molubdos 'lead'