A rare metallic element, atomic no. 41, atomic wt. 92.90638, usually found with tantalum. [Niobe, daughter of Tantalus]
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ni·o·bi·um nī-'ō-bē-əm n a lustrous light gray ductile metallic element that resembles tantalum chemically and is used in alloys symbol Nb called also columbium see ELEMENT (table)
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ni·o·bi·um (Nb) (ni-oґbe-əm) [Niobe, of Greek mythology, who was turned into stone] chemical element, atomic number, 41; atomic weight, 92.906.Medical dictionary. 2011.