dalton

noun

dal·​ton ˈdȯl-tᵊn How to pronounce dalton (audio)
: atomic mass unit
used chiefly in biochemistry

Examples of dalton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But in this case, researchers searched through a collection of 45,000 bigger, heavier compounds, called tethered macrocyclic peptides (MCPs), which have weights around 800 daltons. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024 Most new antibiotics are small molecules—those that have molecular weights of less than 600 daltons. Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dalton.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

John Dalton †1844 English chemist

First Known Use

circa 1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dalton was circa 1928

Dictionary Entries Near dalton

Cite this Entry

“Dalton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dalton. Accessed 9 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

dalton

noun
dal·​ton ˈdȯlt-ᵊn How to pronounce dalton (audio)
: a unit of mass for expressing masses of atoms, molecules, or nuclear particles equal to ¹/₁₂ of the atomic mass of the most abundant carbon isotope 12C : atomic mass unit
used chiefly in biochemistry
abbreviation d

Geographical Definition

Dalton

geographical name

Dal·​ton ˈdȯl-tᵊn How to pronounce Dalton (audio)
city in northwestern Georgia population 33,128

Biographical Definition

Dalton

biographical name

Dal·​ton ˈdȯl-tᵊn How to pronounce Dalton (audio)
John 1766–1844 English chemist and physicist

More from Merriam-Webster on dalton

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!