electron
noun
elec·tron
i-ˈlek-ˌträn 
: an elementary particle consisting of a charge of negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10−19 coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about 9.109 × 10−31 kilogram or about ¹/₁₈₃₆ that of a proton
Examples of electron in a Sentence
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Incoming electron neutrinos would occasionally combine with a neutron inside a gallium atom and convert it into a proton, turning the gallium into germanium.
—
Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2024
The primary emission consists of beta particles, high-energy electrons capable of penetrating tumors and surrounding cells, tearing into DNA and causing damage that ultimately triggers cell death.
—Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
Different atomic elements absorb and emit light at very specific colors (the electrons zipping around the atom’s nucleus can only absorb discrete amounts of energy, a fact that gave rise to the development of quantum mechanics in the first place).
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 July 2024
In the famous double-slit experiment, a stream of electrons or photons sent through two slits produces a pattern that could arise only from interfering waves, not particles.
—Sidney Perkowitz, JSTOR Daily, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for electron 
Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2024
The primary emission consists of beta particles, high-energy electrons capable of penetrating tumors and surrounding cells, tearing into DNA and causing damage that ultimately triggers cell death.
—Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
Different atomic elements absorb and emit light at very specific colors (the electrons zipping around the atom’s nucleus can only absorb discrete amounts of energy, a fact that gave rise to the development of quantum mechanics in the first place).
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 5 July 2024
In the famous double-slit experiment, a stream of electrons or photons sent through two slits produces a pattern that could arise only from interfering waves, not particles.
—Sidney Perkowitz, JSTOR Daily, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for electron
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electron.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Electron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electron. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
electron
noun
elec·tron
i-ˈlek-ˌträn
: an elementary particle that has a negative charge of electricity and travels around the nucleus of an atom
Medical Definition
electron
noun
elec·tron
i-ˈlek-ˌträn
: an elementary particle consisting of a charge of negative electricity equal to about 1.602 × 10−19 coulomb and having a mass when at rest of about 9.109534 × 10−28 gram or about ¹/₁₈₃₆ that of a proton
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