Helium

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Noble \No"ble\, a. [Compar. {Nobler}; superl. {Noblest}.] [F.
     noble, fr. L. nobilis that can be or is known, well known,
     famous, highborn, noble, fr. noscere to know. See {know}.]
     1. Possessing eminence, elevation, dignity, etc.; above
        whatever is low, mean, degrading, or dishonorable;
        magnanimous; as, a noble nature or action; a noble heart.


        [1913 Webster]
  
              Statues, with winding ivy crowned, belong
              To nobler poets for a nobler song.    --Dryden.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Grand; stately; magnificent; splendid; as, a noble
        edifice.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Of exalted rank; of or pertaining to the nobility;
        distinguished from the masses by birth, station, or title;
        highborn; as, noble blood; a noble personage.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Noble is used in the formation of self-explaining
           compounds; as, noble-born, noble-hearted, noble-minded.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Noble gas} (Chem.), a gaseous element belonging to group
        VIII of the periodic table of elements, not combining with
        other elements under normal reaction conditions;
        specifically, {helium}, {neon}, {argon}, {krypton},
        {xenon}, or {radon}; also called {inert gas}.
  
     {Noble metals} (Chem.), silver, gold, and platinum; -- so
        called from their resistance to oxidation by air and to
        dissolution by acids. Copper, mercury, aluminium,
        palladium, rhodium, iridium, and osmium are sometimes
        included.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Honorable; worthy; dignified; elevated; exalted;
          superior; sublime; great; eminent; illustrious;
          renowned; stately; splendid; magnificent; grand;
          magnanimous; generous; liberal; free.
          [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Helium \He"li*um\ (h[=e]"l[i^]*[u^]m), n. [NL., fr. Gr. "h`lios
     the sun.] (Chem.)
     An inert, monoatomic, gaseous element occurring in the
     atmosphere of the sun and stars, and in small quantities in
     the earth's atmosphere, in several minerals and in certain
     mineral waters. It is obtained from natural gas in industrial
     quantities. Symbol, He; atomic number 2; at. wt., 4.0026
     (C=12.011). Helium was first detected spectroscopically in
     the sun by Lockyer in 1868; it was first prepared by Ramsay
     in 1895. Helium has a density of 1.98 compared with hydrogen,
     and is more difficult to liquefy than the latter. Chemically,
     it is an inert noble gas, belonging to the argon group, and
     cannot be made to form compounds. The helium nucleus is the
     charged particle which constitutes alpha rays, and helium is
     therefore formed as a decomposition product of certain
     radioactive substances such as radium. The normal helium
     nucleus has two protons and two neutrons, but an isotope with
     only one neutron is also observed in atmospheric helium at an
     abundance of 0.013 %. Liquid helium has a boiling point of
     -268.9[deg] C at atmospheric pressure, and is used for
     maintaining very low temperatures, both in laboratory
     experimentation and in commercial applications to maintain
     superconductivity in low-temperature superconducting devices.
     Gaseous helium at normal temperatures is used for buoyancy in
     blimps, dirigibles, and high-altitude balloons, and also for
     amusement in party balloons.
     [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  helium
       n : a very light colorless element that is one of the six inert
           gasses; the most difficult gas to liquefy; occurs in
           economically extractable amounts in certain natural gases
           (as those found in Texas and Kansas) [syn: {He}, {atomic
           number 2}]

From Elements database 20001107 [elements]:

  helium
  Symbol: He
  Atomic number: 2
  Atomic weight: 4.0026
  Colourless, odourless gaseous nonmetallic element. Belongs to group 18 of
  the periodic table. Lowest boiling point of all elements and can only be
  solidified under pressure. Chemically inert, no known compounds.
  Discovered in the solar spectrum in 1868 by Lockyer.