Definition

A strong and heavy metal that is gray to white in color, known for its high melting point and resistance to corrosion. It is used in various applications, including light bulb filaments and strong alloys.

Example

The light bulb uses a tungsten filament to produce bright light.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of tungsten?

Yeah, isn’t it used in light bulbs?

Exactly! It has a really high melting point, too.

That’s cool! I didn’t know it was so tough.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tungsten comes from the Swedish word 'tungsten', which means 'heavy stone'. It is derived from 'tung' (meaning heavy) and 'sten' (meaning stone). The word refers to the element's high density and heaviness, as it is one of the heaviest metals known.

Memory Tip

Think of 'heavy' ('tung') and 'stone' ('sten') to remember that tungsten refers to a heavy metal.

Visually Confused Words