deuterium UK /djuːˈtɪəɹɪəm/US /djuːˈtɪɹi.əm/ noun2 •An isotope of hydrogen with one proton and one neutron in each atom - 21H.Heavy water is "heavy" because it contains deuterium. •An atom of this isotope.There were about 80 deuteriums for every million protiums, and virtually no tritium. formsdeuteriums