Standard Lemma guide

ferrocerium

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌfɛɹoʊˈsɪəɹiəm/
  • rhymes with -ɪəɹiəm

1

noun

Meaning 1

A pyrophoric alloy of iron and cerium that is used with a striker (a steel) to make the spark of a lighter or firestarter.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Examples

  • Near-synonym: flint (loose sense)

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: flint

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

a pyrophoric alloy of iron with cerium; used for lighter flints

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: pyrophoric alloy

History

Etymology

Etymology tree substratebor. Old Latin *fersom Latin ferrum English ferro- English cerium English ferrocerium From ferro- + cerium.