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Chemistry. a silver-white metallic element, light in weight, ductile, malleable, and not readily corroded or tarnished, occurring combined in nature in igneous rock, shale, clay, and most soil: used in alloys and for lightweight utensils, castings, airplane parts, etc. Symbol: Al; atomic weight: 26.98; atomic number: 13; specific gravity: 2.70 at 20°C.
Abbreviation: alum.;
of, relating to, or containing aluminum:
an aluminum frying pan.
Contemporary Examples

Cherney says the agreement guaranteed him a 20 percent stake in Rusal, the world’s largest producer of aluminum.
Oligarch v. Oligarch: London’s Courts Attract Litigious Tycoons Mike Giglio July 22, 2012

In 2012, Li allegedly supplied the Iranians with 20,000 kilos of steel pipe and 1,300 aluminum alloy tubes.
Tehran’s Chinese Missile Man Jefferson Morley June 8, 2014

While plentiful and cheap today, aluminum was once an extremely valuable metal.
Weird Washington Monument History William O’Connor May 11, 2014

Remove the squab breasts from the marinade and place on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.
Daniel Boulud Reveals His 4 Favorite Recipes From His New Cookbook Daniel Boulud October 14, 2013

Todashev reportedly came at him with what looked like a metal pipe, but reportedly proved to be an aluminum broom handle.
How Local Police Missed a Chance to Stop Tamerlan Tsarnaev in 2011 Michael Daly July 11, 2013

Historical Examples

The tensile strength of both soft copper and of aluminum wire is about 33,000 pounds per square inch of section.
Electric Transmission of Water Power Alton D. Adams

These alloys are made of a combination of aluminum and magnesium.
Flying Machines W.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell

Hunting arrows require no horn, bone, aluminum, or fiber nock.
Hunting with the Bow and Arrow Saxton Pope

It was an eight-foot section of aluminum from the cargo racks.
Satellite System Horace Brown Fyfe

Metal, with the exception of aluminum, cut the intensity roughly about half.
All In The Mind Gene L. Henderson

n.

1812, coined by English chemist Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829), from alumina, name given 18c. to aluminum oxide, from Latin alumen “alum” (see alum). Davy originally called it alumium (1808), then amended this to aluminum, which remains the U.S. word, but British editors in 1812 further amended it to aluminium, the modern preferred British form, to better harmonize with other metallic element names (sodium, potassium, etc.).

Aluminium, for so we shall take the liberty of writing the word, in preference to aluminum, which has a less classical sound. [“Quarterly Review,” 1812]

aluminum a·lu·mi·num (ə-lōō’mə-nəm)
n.
Symbol Al
A silvery-white, ductile metallic element, found chiefly in bauxite. A good conductor, it is used in light, corrosion-resistant alloys. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.98; melting point 660.3°C; boiling point 2,519°C; specific gravity 2.70; valence 3.
aluminum
(ə-l’mə-nəm)
Symbol Al A lightweight, silvery-white metallic element that is ductile, is found chiefly in bauxite, and is a good conductor of electricity. It is the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust and is used to make a wide variety of products from soda cans to airplane components. Atomic number 13; atomic weight 26.98; melting point 660.2°C (1,220.36°F); boiling point 2,467°C; specific gravity 2.69; valence 3. See Periodic Table.