cosmic ray

noun

: a stream of atomic nuclei of extremely penetrating character that enter the earth's atmosphere from outer space at speeds approaching that of light

Examples of cosmic ray in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Above that, no cosmic rays at all were expected. Big Think, 30 Jan. 2026 These winds, traveling at speeds 1,500 times the speed of sound here on Earth, carry gas, dust, metals, and cosmic rays far beyond the galaxy itself. Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2026 Impressively, the latest version of CosmicWatch is also being modified to measure primary cosmic rays aboard rockets and spacecraft. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026 Quantum bits are inherently fragile and thus sensitive to all kinds of environmental factors, such as electric or magnetic fields, mechanical vibrations, or even cosmic rays. IEEE Spectrum, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cosmic ray

Word History

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cosmic ray was in 1925

Cite this Entry

“Cosmic ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cosmic%20ray. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

cosmic ray

noun
: a stream of atomic nuclei of extremely penetrating character that enter the earth's atmosphere from outer space at speeds approaching that of light

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