a brittle silver-white metalloid element that is related to selenium and sulfur; it is used in alloys and as a semiconductor; occurs mainly as tellurides in ores of copper and nickel and silver and gold • Syn: Te, atomic number 52 • Derivationally related forms: telluric • Hypernyms: chemical element, element • Substance Holonyms: telluride, sylvanite, graphic tellurium