A silvery white metallic element, atomic no. 42, atomic wt. 95.94; a bioelement found in a number of proteins ( e.g., xanthine oxidase). See m. target tube. [G. molybdaina, a piece of lead; a metal, prob. galena, fr. molybdos, lead]
* * *
mo·lyb·de·num -də-nəm n a metallic element that resembles chromium and tungsten in many properties, is used esp. in strengthening and hardening steel, and is a trace element in plant and animal metabolism symbol Mo see ELEMENT (table)
* * *
mo·lyb·den·um (Mo) (mə-libґdə-nəm) [Gr. molybdos lead] a hard, silvery-white, metallic element; atomic number, 42; atomic weight, 95.94; specific gravity, 10.2. It is an essential trace element, being a component of the enzymes xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and nitrate reductase. Livestock grazing in certain types of pasture may suffer from molybdenum poisoning.Medical dictionary. 2011.