ˈkadmēəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin cadmia calamine (from Greek kadmeia, from feminine of Kadmeios Cadmean) + New Latin -ium; from the occurrence of its ores together with calamine
: a tin-white malleable ductile toxic bivalent metallic element capable of a high polish and emitting a crackling sound when bent, occurring in greenockite and also in small amounts in ores of zinc from which it is separated as a by-product, and used chiefly in the protective electroplating of iron and steel and in the manufacture of bearing metals — symbol Cd ; see element table