barium
/ˈbɛːrɪəm
/noun [mass noun]
1The chemical element of atomic number 56, a soft white reactive metal of the alkaline earth group. (Symbol: Ba) New processing methods are outlined from which potassium, sodium, barium, strontium and cadmium were discovered....
- The resulting elements (such as, strontium, zirconium, barium, lanthanum, and lead) then decay into still heavier elements.
- Many of these cavities contain good crystals of potassium, strontium, barium, rare earths, titanium, and niobium minerals.
1.1A mixture of barium sulphate and water, opaque to X-rays, which is swallowed to permit radiological examination of the stomach or intestines: [as modifier]: a barium meal...
- An example of this is in specialty guidelines for colon cancer screening, where radiologists recommend barium enemas while gastroenterologists recommend colonoscopy.
- Useful modalities for investigating a suspected case include small bowel barium meal, barium enema, ultrasonography, computed tomographic scan and colonoscopy.
- There is also insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening with digital rectal examination, barium enema, or colonoscopy.
Barium compounds are used in water purification, the glass industry, and pigments, and as an ingredient of signal flares and fireworks, to which they give a bright yellowish-green colour. Barium oxide is a component of high-temperature superconductors.
Origin
Early 19th century: from baryta + -ium.
Rhymes
- auto-defrost
- auto-destruct
- auto-destruction
- auto-destructive
- autodiagnosis
- autodiagnostic
- autodial
- autodialler
- autodidact
- autodidactic
- autodidacticism
- autodigestion
- autodrome
- autodynamic
- autodyne
- autoecious
- auto-education
- auto-enrol
- autoenroll
- autoenrollment
- auto-enrolment
- auto-erotic
- autoerotic asphyxia
- auto-erotic asphyxiation
- auto-eroticism