ˈbizməth, ˈbism- noun
( -s )
Etymology: obsolete German bisemutum, bismut (now wismut ), modification of wismut, from wise meadow (from Old High German wisa ) + mut claim to a mine, from muten to claim, from Old High German muotōn, from muot mind; akin to Old English wāse mire, marsh — more at ooze , mood
: a heavy brittle highly diamagnetic chiefly trivalent metallic element resembling arsenic and antimony chemically, crystallizing usually in grayish white rhombohedrons with a pinkish tinge and high luster, characterized by low melting point, expansion on solidification, low thermal conductivity and electric conductivity, occurring widely but sparingly both native in veins (as in arborescent, foliated, or granular forms) and in combination (as in bismuthinite, bismite, and bismutite), but being usually recovered as a by-product from ores of other metals (as lead, copper, or tin), and used chiefly in making fusible alloys, casting alloys, and bismuth compounds for chemical and pharmaceutical use — symbol Bi ; see actinium series , thorium series , uranium series ; element table