-dənəm noun
( -s )
Etymology: New Latin, from molybdena
: a difficultly fusible polyvalent metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in many of its properties, that is obtained as a dark gray powder or hard silver-white metal usually from its principal ore molybdenite by roasting to molybdenum trioxide and reducing, that is used chiefly in strengthening and hardening steel, and that is a trace element in plant and animal metabolism — symbol Mo ; see ferromolybdenum; element table