: an unstable meson that occurs in both charged and neutral forms and is about 970 times more massive than an electron
Examples of kaon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The kaon, a special case of meson particle, is made of one quark and one antiquark.
—
Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 6 Mar. 2020
This symmetry would be all well and good if physicists had not discovered in 1964 that the weak nuclear force doesn’t share it: Two-quark particles called neutral kaons decay in ways CP symmetry forbids.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Nov. 2019
Alternatively, the hidden depths of neutron stars might be filled with kaons — also made with strange quarks — that collect into a single lump of matter sharing the same quantum state.
—Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2017
An experiment in 1964 involving exotic particles called kaons violated charge-parity symmetry.
—Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 13 Dec. 2017
The Xi decays into a particle called the lambda baryon and three lighter particles, the K- (or kaon) and two pions.
—Fox News, 11 July 2017
The most famous of these two-quark particles are kaons and pions.
—Adam Mann, WIRED, 17 June 2013
See More
Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 6 Mar. 2020
This symmetry would be all well and good if physicists had not discovered in 1964 that the weak nuclear force doesn’t share it: Two-quark particles called neutral kaons decay in ways CP symmetry forbids.
—Quanta Magazine, 27 Nov. 2019
Alternatively, the hidden depths of neutron stars might be filled with kaons — also made with strange quarks — that collect into a single lump of matter sharing the same quantum state.
—Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2017
An experiment in 1964 involving exotic particles called kaons violated charge-parity symmetry.
—Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, 13 Dec. 2017
The Xi decays into a particle called the lambda baryon and three lighter particles, the K- (or kaon) and two pions.
—Fox News, 11 July 2017
The most famous of these two-quark particles are kaons and pions.
—Adam Mann, WIRED, 17 June 2013
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kaon.' 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
International Scientific Vocabulary ka kay (from K-meson, its earlier name) + -on entry 2
First Known Use
1958, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near kaon
Cite this Entry
“Kaon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kaon. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share