gamma

1 of 2

noun

gam·​ma ˈga-mə How to pronounce gamma (audio)
plural gammas
1
: the 3rd letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table
2
: something or someone designated with the name gamma or the Greek letter γ especially denoting the third in position, order, or class
gamma hydroxybutyrate
3
: the degree of contrast of a developed photographic image or of a video image
4
: a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one nanotesla
5
: gamma ray
gamma counter
6

gamma

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or being one of three or more closely related chemical substances
2
: third in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom
symbol γ

Examples of gamma in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Other waves are fast and choppy—awake and conscious activity is typically associated with beta (13 to 30 Hz) and gamma waves (roughly 30 to 100 Hz). Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 13 June 2023 Seconds after their ventilators were removed, two of the patients’ brains suddenly lit up with a burst of neuronal activity in high-frequency patterns called gamma waves that continued as the heart stopped beating. Bysara Reardon, science.org, 1 May 2023 Some companies have begun selling devices designed to trigger gamma waves without first proving that the devices are effective. Ryan Cross, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Mar. 2023 As these rates lag, coronavirus variants that are more transmissible and dangerous than the original strain continue to spread, including the delta variant that’s now dominant in the U.S., the gamma variant in Brazil, and the beta variant in South Africa. Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 26 Aug. 2021 Delta also lacks the E484K mutation, which has made the gamma variant so worrisome. Liz Szabo, Quartz, 29 July 2021 So far, experts say, no coronavirus variant among the ones known so far — alpha, beta, delta plus, gamma, lambda and others — rivals delta as a competitor. San Francisco Chronicle, 21 July 2021 The gamma wave activity of two patients shortly before death is considered the fastest brain activity possible. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 9 May 2023 But the brain activity measurements for two of the patients showed surges in gamma waves after they were taken off life support and experienced cardiac arrest. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2023
Adjective
The company expects these programs to lead to full a gamma version and full production runs by the end of 2024. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2023 And the worldwide shortage of gamma ferric oxide has brought tape production to a crawl. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 11 Oct. 2019 In addition to remaining unperturbed by the outside world, this specific subset of cells tended to spike regularly at gamma-range intervals, like a metronome. Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 18 July 2019 This revealed phytanic acid (frequently found in the fat and milk of ruminants), azelaic acid (common in wholegrain cereals) and gamma-terpinene (typically found in herbs like coriander). The Economist, 12 July 2018 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gamma.' 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

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek gȧmma, borrowed from Phoenician *gaml-, perhaps with the original sense "throwing stick"

Adjective

attributive use of gamma entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gamma was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near gamma

Cite this Entry

“Gamma.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamma. Accessed 4 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

gamma

noun
gam·​ma
ˈgam-ə
: the third letter of the Greek alphabet
Γ or γ

Medical Definition

gamma

1 of 2 noun
gam·​ma ˈgam-ə How to pronounce gamma (audio)
1
: the third letter of the Greek alphabet
symbol Γ or γ
2
: a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one nanotesla
3
: gamma ray
usually used as the attributive form of gamma ray
gamma counter
4

gamma

2 of 2 adjective
variants or γ-
1
: of or relating to one of three or more closely related chemical substances
the gamma chain of hemoglobin
γ-yohimbine
used somewhat arbitrarily to specify ordinal relationship or a particular physical form and especially one that is allotropic, isomeric, or stereoisomeric (as in gamma benzene hexachloride)
2
: third in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom
also : occurring at or having a structure characterized by such a position
γ-hydroxy acids
3
of streptococci : producing no hemolysis on blood agar plates

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