noun
tungsten
TUHNGS-tuhn
noun
1
A hard, dense metallic element (symbol W) with an extremely high melting point.
"Tungsten filaments were once standard in incandescent light bulbs."
"Drill bits are often tipped with tungsten carbide for extra durability."
How to Use Tungsten
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA very tough, heavy metal used in light bulb filaments, cutting tools, and heavy machinery because of its extreme hardness and heat resistance.
Common pairings
tungsten carbide
tungsten filament
Word Forms
tungstens plural
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_____ filaments were once standard in incandescent light bulbs.
Etymology
Borrowed from Swedish tungsten, literally "heavy stone" (tung, "heavy" + sten, "stone").