Dysprosium Definition
dĭs-prōzē-əm, -zhē-əm
noun
A silver-white chemical element, one of the rare-earth elements, with a great capacity to absorb neutrons and with strong magnetic properties, esp. at very low temperatures: symbol, Dy; at. no. 66
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- atomic number 66
- dy
Origin of Dysprosium
-
New Latin from Greek dusprositos difficult to approach (from its rarity in nature) dus- dys- prositos approachable (from prosienai to approach) (pros- toward) (ienai i- to go ei- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Ancient Greek δυσπρόσιτος (dusprositos, “hard to get”).
From Wiktionary