zirconium

zir*co*ni*um

noun

{bc}a steel-gray hard ductile metallic element with a high melting point that occurs widely in combined form (as in {a_link|zircon}), is highly resistant to corrosion, and is used especially in alloys and in refractories and ceramics {dx}see {dxt|Chemical Elements Table|element|table}{/dx}

cubic zirconia

noun

{bc}a synthetic gemstone of zirconia resembling a diamond

zir*co*nia

noun

{bc}a white crystalline compound ZrO{inf}2{/inf} used especially in refractories, in thermal and electric insulation, in abrasives, and in enamels and glazes