Definitions

curium

Etymology phono-semantic

metal

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

(traditional form: ) is a phono-semantic compound composed of the semantic component , a simplification of , meaning 'metal', on the left, and the phonetic component , which suggests the pronunciation, on the right. Historically, the character denoted a small metal staple or cramp employed in the craft of repairing broken pottery, with the radical naturally specifying the tool's material. In modern times, it has also been adopted as a phonetic loan for curium, a synthetic radioactive chemical element, giving an additional scientific meaning entirely separate from its traditional metallurgical sense.