osmium UK /ˈɒz.mi.əm/US /ˈɑz.mi.əm/ noun2 •A chemical element (symbol Os) with atomic number 76: a hard, brittle, heavy, bluish-white transition metal found as a trace element in alloys, mostly in platinum ores.Their latest catalyst includes some osmium.This reaction substitutes a ruthenium for an osmium. •An atom of this element. formsosmiums