calcium

noun

cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm How to pronounce calcium (audio)
often attributive
: a metallic chemical element of the alkaline-earth group that occurs naturally only in combination and is essential to cellular functions in all known organisms see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of calcium in a Sentence

Her doctor said she should eat more foods that are high in calcium, such as milk and cheese.
Recent Examples on the Web Researchers also found that taking calcium supplements with the heart medication digoxin can cause a toxic reaction. Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 In people with healthy magnesium levels, muscle cells at rest contain approximately 10,000 times more magnesium than calcium. Jocelyn Solis-Moreira, Scientific American, 16 Feb. 2024 Getting plenty of calcium and vitamin D may slow the disease and prevent fractures.1 How Are Calcium and Vitamin D Helpful in Strengthening Your Bones? Health Editorial Team, Health, 9 Feb. 2024 Strontium builds up on their bones in warmer waters, and calcium builds up in cooler waters. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 Lobster provides a significant amount of zinc, calcium, phosphorous, selenium, potassium and B vitamins. Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Tap water and bottled drinking water are full of minerals like zinc, calcium, and magnesium, and in any humidifier that doesn’t boil water (a feature included mainly in industrial units), they get shaken or blown right into the air alongside water molecules. TIME, 24 Jan. 2024 That means scientists can track temperatures by looking at the ratio of strontium and calcium as the creatures steadily grow. Evan Bush, NBC News, 5 Feb. 2024 Bones need vitamin D to absorb calcium, magnesium for structural integrity and vitamin K for the formation of osteocalcin, a type of protein found in bone. Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'calcium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin calc-, calx lime

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of calcium was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near calcium

Cite this Entry

“Calcium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calcium. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

calcium

noun
cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm How to pronounce calcium (audio)
: a silver-white soft metallic element that is found only in combination with other elements (as in limestone) and is one of the necessary elements making up the bodies of most plants and animals see element
Etymology

derived from Latin calc-, calx "lime" — related to calculate, chalk

Medical Definition

calcium

noun
cal·​ci·​um ˈkal-sē-əm How to pronounce calcium (audio)
often attributive
: a silver-white bivalent metallic element that is an alkaline earth metal, occurs only in combination, and is an essential constituent of most plants and animals
symbol Ca
see Chemical Elements Table

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