A grayish-white lustrous metallic element. Symbol, Zr. Occurs widely, but only in combined form, esp. in the minerals zircon, (ZrSiO₄), and baddeleyite, (ZrO₂). Uses include resisting corrosion, as a structural material in nuclear reactors, as an alloying agent, deoxidizer, bonding agent, refractory material, and in low-temperature superconductive magnets.