ˈzenəˌtīm noun
( -s )
Etymology: French xénotime, irregular (influence of xén- xen-) from Greek kenos empty, vain + timē honor; from the fact that it was wrongly thought at first to contain a new metal
: a mineral YPO 4 that is a phosphate of yttrium occurring in usually brown or yellow tetragonal crystals and rolled grains and that often also contains thorium, erbium, cerium, or other elements (hardness 4-5, specific gravity 4.45-4.56)