What does krypton mean?
Krypton is a noble gas and chemical element, symbol Kr, with atomic number 36. It is colorless, odorless, chemically inert, and present only in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere. Because of its distinctive spectral properties, krypton is used in specialized applications such as high-intensity lamps, photographic flash units, and scientific instruments. In science fiction, krypton is also a fictional radioactive element, often associated with a dangerous atmosphere or with the fictional planet whose name is Krypton. The word can therefore function both as a technical chemical term and as a familiar element of speculative fiction. Its unusual spelling and pronunciation make it memorable, while its name reflects the historical difficulty of identifying the gas and the hidden nature of its properties.
nounKrypton is a colorless, odorless noble gas and chemical element belonging to group 18 of the periodic table. In science fiction, the term can also denote a fictional radioactive element or the atmosphere of a fictional planet called Krypton.
- The chemical element krypton, a naturally occurring noble gas used in specialized lighting and scientific research.
- A fictional radioactive element or gaseous substance, particularly in science-fiction settings involving the planet Krypton.
"The lighthouse uses a small krypton lamp to produce a brilliant white light."
"Krypton is present in trace amounts in Earth's atmosphere."
"The story describes an explorer entering a region where the atmosphere contains deadly krypton."
Rare in modern technical writing, where krypton is generally used unchanged; the plural may be used when referring to multiple atoms, samples, or instances of the element.
"The detector recorded traces of kryptons in the sample."
Krypton was named for its elusive nature: its name comes from the Greek word meaning “hidden.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does krypton come from?
The name comes from the Greek kryptos, meaning “hidden,” referring to the difficulty of separating and identifying the gas in the atmosphere. Krypton was discovered in 1898 by William Ramsay and Morris Travers, and its name was chosen in the tradition of naming gases after Greek roots. The word shares this origin with crypt, cryptic, crypto, and encryption.
How krypton is actually used
As a chemical element, krypton is normally used without an article in a mass sense, as in “the presence of krypton in the atmosphere.” In science fiction, the word may be treated as a fictional element or as the name of a gas, with capitalization sometimes used for the planet and its associated material.
Easily confused with krypton
Krypton is a chemical element or a science-fiction element, whereas a crypt is a small underground chamber traditionally used for burial.