Real Dictionary

germanium in American English
a grayish-white, nonmetallic chemical element of the carbon family used in semiconductors, transistors, infrared equipment, etc.: symbol, Ge; at. no., 32
noun: a scarce, metallic, grayish-white element, normally tetravalent, used chiefly in transistors; at. wt.ː 72.59; at. no.ː 32; sp. gr.ː 5.36 at 20°C

germanium in British English
noun: a brittle crystalline grey element that is a semiconducting metalloid, occurring principally in zinc ores and argyrodite: used in transistors, as a catalyst, and to strengthen and harden alloys. Symbol: Ge; atomic no: 32; atomic wt: 72.61; valency: 2 or 4