thallium
noun
thal·li·um ˈtha-lē-əm 
: a soft poisonous metallic element that resembles lead in physical properties, occurs sparsely in a number of common ores, and is used chiefly in the form of compounds especially in photosensitive devices and formerly as a pesticide see Chemical Elements Table
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web It's often used to treat heavy-metal poisoning from thallium or radioactive cesium because its lattice-like network structure—similar to a jungle gym—can trap metal ions from those metals and prevent them from being absorbed by the body. 
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 June 2022 The pigment forms a network structure that can trap individual metal ions, such as those from thallium or radioactive cesium, and prevent them from being taken up by the body. Eva Amsen, Forbes, 17 June 2022 Someone used a rare toxic metal called thallium to fell the once-powerful and athletic lobbyist, reporter Nigel Jaquiss writes in his detailed account. The Oregonian/oregonlive Politics Team, oregonlive, 3 Nov. 2021 Many notable revolutionaries are associated with equally notable facial hair—from Emiliano Zapata and Karl Marx to Fidel Castro, whose beard was so iconic that the C.I.A. wanted to remove it, via thallium salts in his shoes. Rachel Lipstein, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2020 Specifically, the group says the creek has shown signs of elevated concentrations of mercury, and elevated levels of arsenic, molybdenum, selenium, copper and thallium from mining in the area. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 1 Mar. 2020 That volcano emits fumes with a thallium concentration at least ten times higher than any other volcanic vapors ever studied. Sophia Chen, WIRED, 1 July 2019 The substance that condensed inside the tube, upon analysis, contained an abnormally large amount of thallium. Sophia Chen, WIRED, 1 July 2019 But a second hair from March 1995 showed Zhu Ling had ingested large doses of thallium constantly for about two weeks. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2018 See More
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 June 2022 The pigment forms a network structure that can trap individual metal ions, such as those from thallium or radioactive cesium, and prevent them from being taken up by the body. Eva Amsen, Forbes, 17 June 2022 Someone used a rare toxic metal called thallium to fell the once-powerful and athletic lobbyist, reporter Nigel Jaquiss writes in his detailed account. The Oregonian/oregonlive Politics Team, oregonlive, 3 Nov. 2021 Many notable revolutionaries are associated with equally notable facial hair—from Emiliano Zapata and Karl Marx to Fidel Castro, whose beard was so iconic that the C.I.A. wanted to remove it, via thallium salts in his shoes. Rachel Lipstein, The New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2020 Specifically, the group says the creek has shown signs of elevated concentrations of mercury, and elevated levels of arsenic, molybdenum, selenium, copper and thallium from mining in the area. William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 1 Mar. 2020 That volcano emits fumes with a thallium concentration at least ten times higher than any other volcanic vapors ever studied. Sophia Chen, WIRED, 1 July 2019 The substance that condensed inside the tube, upon analysis, contained an abnormally large amount of thallium. Sophia Chen, WIRED, 1 July 2019 But a second hair from March 1995 showed Zhu Ling had ingested large doses of thallium constantly for about two weeks. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 25 Dec. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, from Greek thallos green shoot; from the bright green line in its spectrum
First Known Use
1861, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
thallium
noun
thal·li·um ˈthal-ē-əm
: a sparsely but widely distributed poisonous metallic element that resembles lead in physical properties and is used chiefly in the form of compounds in photoelectric cells or as a pesticide —symbol Tl see Chemical Elements Table