Definition of: manganese

(mang′gə·nēs, -nēz) noun Chem.
A hard, brittle, metallic element (symbol Mn). In color, it is grayish–white tinged with red; it rusts like iron, but is not magnetic; it is widely distributed (in combination) in nature, and forms an important component of certain alloys, such as manganese steel. See ELEMENT. [<F manganèse <Ital. manganese, alter. of Med. L magnesia MAGNESIA]