neodymium

noun

Etymology: From neo- + (di)dymium.

1. A chemical element (symbol Nd) with an atomic number of 60: a hard, slightly malleable silvery rare earth metal that quickly tarnishes in air and moisture.

   “Other rare elements, like neodymium, exist in more than one isotopic form, the ratios of which can provide a measure of the depth from which the flow material may ultimately have been derived.”

   “The most important application of dysprosium and terbium, which belong to a subgroup known as the heavy rare earths, is in devices called neodymium boron magnets, or neo magnets for short.”

2. A single atom of this element.