gamma ray

noun

: a photon emitted spontaneously by a radioactive substance

also : a photon of higher energy than that of an X-ray

Examples of gamma ray in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One compelling hypothesis is that dark matter particles in the dense central halo are interacting with and annihilating one another, releasing energy as gamma rays. —Paul M. Sutter, Scientific American, 6 May 2026

That gamma ray would transform into an electron and its antimatter twin, a positron. —Quanta Magazine, 6 May 2026

The Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO) has detected ultra-powerful gamma rays—reaching energies of about one quadrillion electron volts (PeV)—coming from a seemingly ordinary stellar remnant. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026

Blasts of gamma rays can trap positive charges in the oxide, degrading the device’s performance and causing errors. —Katherine Bourzac, IEEE Spectrum, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for gamma ray

• aaa
• adonais
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway

Kids Definition

gamma ray

noun

: a ray that is like an X-ray but of higher energy and that is given off especially by a radioactive substance

Medical Definition

gamma ray

noun

: a photon emitted spontaneously by a radioactive substance

also : a high-energy photon

—usually used in plural