a hard brittle grey polyvalent metallic element that resembles iron but is not magnetic; used in making steel; occurs in many minerals
"The geologist pointed out the dark grey specks of manganese embedded in the rock, noting how its hardness and lack of magnetism distinguished it from nearby iron deposits."
A metallic chemical element (symbol Mn) with an atomic number of 25, not a free element in nature but often found in minerals in combination with iron, and useful in industrial alloy production.
"The steel mill added manganese to the molten iron mixture to strengthen the final alloy for car frames."
The word manganese comes from the French manganèse, which was adapted from the Latin magnesia. The original Latin term referred to a region in Ancient Greece known as Magnesia.