Uranium
/jʊˈreɪniəm/noun
A radioactive chemical element with the symbol U and atomic number 92.
Did you know?Uranium was named in 1789 after the recently discovered planet Uranus, whose name comes from Ouranos, the ancient Greek personification of the sky.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Οὐρανός (Ouranos)
“The sky or heavens; also the primordial personification of the sky in Greek mythology.”
Classical Latin
Latin
Ūranus
“The Romanized name of the Greek sky deity and mythological ancestor of the Titans.”
1781
English
Uranus
“The name given to the newly recognized planet, chosen in reference to the classical sky deity.”
1789
German
Uran
“Martin Heinrich Klaproth's name for the newly isolated element, honoring the recently discovered planet Uranus.”
1790s
English
uranium
“The English form of the element's name, created from Uranus with the chemical suffix -ium.”
Modern English
English
uranium
“A naturally occurring radioactive element used in nuclear fuel, research, and weapons.”