Meaning & use
manganese
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Meanings
noununcountablechemistry
A hard, brittle, grayish-white metal that is used in making steel and other alloys.
Grammar: Uncountable as a substance; not used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- manganese steel
- manganese ore
- manganese dioxide
Manganese is added to steel to make it stronger and more resistant to wear.
The country is a major exporter of manganese ore.
Exposure to manganese dust can be harmful to workers in mines.
noununcountablechemistrybiology
A chemical element (symbol Mn) that is essential in small amounts for human health and plant growth.
Grammar: Used in scientific contexts; often appears in the phrase 'manganese deficiency'.
Patterns
- manganese deficiency
- dietary manganese
Plants need manganese to produce chlorophyll.
A lack of manganese in the diet can lead to bone problems.
The lab tested the water for traces of manganese and iron.
Common combinations
- manganese steel
- Manganese steel is used in railway tracks and safes.
- manganese ore
- The mine produces high-grade manganese ore.
- manganese dioxide
- Manganese dioxide is a common ingredient in dry-cell batteries.
- manganese deficiency
- Manganese deficiency in crops can reduce yields.
Commonly confused: manganese or magnesium?
manganese vs magnesium
Magnesium is a different chemical element (symbol Mg), lighter and used in alloys and supplements; manganese is Mn, a harder metal used mainly in steel.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'manganese' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Manganese is a metal used in steel production, so sentence B is correct. It is not a gas, vitamin, or gemstone.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “manganese”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.