DictionaryAI

aluminium

noun
al-yuh-MIN-ee-um/ˌæl.(j)ʊˈmɪn.i.əm/al-yoo-MIN-ee-um/ˌæl.(j)uˈmɪn.i.əm/

US spellingaluminum

3 meanings of aluminium

Practice

  1. 1
    metalnoununcountable
    A light, silver-coloured metal and chemical element that is taken from a rock called bauxite.

    Is this pan made of aluminium or steel?

    Please put the empty aluminium cans in the recycling.

    Note
  2. 2
    aircraftnounslanguncountable
    Aeroplanes and other machines, when people call them by the metal they are partly or fully made of.

    The airport was busy, with lots of aluminium waiting to take off.

    The air show was full of shiny old aluminium parked by the runway.

    Similaraircraft

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 3
    noun
    One atom of aluminium.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of aluminium apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

First recorded in 1811 as a name for the metal. It comes from the Latin word alūmen.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts