electron cloud

noun

: the system of electrons surrounding the nucleus of an atom

Examples of electron cloud in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
These new X-ray pulses are fast enough to eventually enable scientists to answer questions such as how exactly an electron cloud moves around and what a chemical bond actually is. Thomas Linker, The Conversation, 15 Oct. 2025 This negative capacitance response effectively amplifies the gate control, helping the transistor’s 2D electron cloud accumulate charge and boosting the on-state current. IEEE Spectrum, 28 July 2025 Oxygen’s electron cloud is also relatively thin compared to other elements. Laura Poppick, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025 If the device touches another material, electrons transfer between their overlapping electron clouds to generate triboelectric electricity. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 25 Sep. 2024 Shielded by the electron cloud, the nucleus is less susceptible to noises in the environment. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of electron cloud was in 1920

Cite this Entry

“Electron cloud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electron%20cloud. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.

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