neutrino

noun

neu·​tri·​no nü-ˈtrē-(ˌ)nō 

nyü-

plural neutrinos

: an uncharged elementary particle that is believed to have a very small mass, that has any of three forms, and that interacts only rarely with other particles

neutrinoless

nü-ˈtrē-(ˌ)nō-ləs 

nyü-

adjective

Examples of neutrino in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The rate of growth—determined through comparison of the average size of voids in the early universe to those in the modern universe—can reveal how much mass neutrinos actually have. —Michael D. Lemonick, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2024

In particular, Kotwal and his colleagues sought out collisions that produced two specific pairs of particles: either a muon and a neutrino, or an electron and a neutrino. —Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, 7 Apr. 2022

The recoil from beta emissions is not yet observable because the mass of an electron and a neutrino are so small. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

More experiments must also be done to extend the Standard Model, to answer questions such as why the universe has so much matter compared to antimatter, what exactly is dark matter, and why neutrinos have mass. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Jan. 2019

That’s interesting because current experiments for detecting neutrinos and dark matter are huge, some the size of city blocks. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024

Carlos Argüelles-Delgado, an assistant professor at Harvard University and a neutrino physicist who uses data from IceCube, also refuted the claim. —USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2024

When a neutrino is absorbed by an atom of chlorine, an atom of the radioactive isotope argon 37 is formed. —Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, 14 May 2022

Beneath the ice are photodetectors that pick up the neutrino signals. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 29 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from neutro neutral, neuter, from Latin neutr-, neuter

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

neutrino

noun

neu·​tri·​no n(y)ü-ˈtrē-nō 

plural neutrinos

: an uncharged elementary particle believed to have little or no mass

Medical Definition

neutrino

noun

neu·​tri·​no n(y)ü-ˈtrē-(ˌ)nō 

plural neutrinos

: an uncharged elementary particle that is believed to be massless or to have a very small mass, that has any of three forms, and that interacts only rarely with other particles