neutron
noun
ˈnyü- \
Definition of neutron
: an uncharged elementary particle that has a mass nearly equal to that of the proton and is present in all known atomic nuclei except the hydrogen nucleus
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Other words from neutron
nyü-
\
adjective
Examples of neutron in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Later, researchers would learn that cosmic-ray neutrons can slam into processor parts, corrupting their data. — Sarah Scoles, WIRED, "Cosmic Ray Showers Crash Supercomputers. Here's What to Do About It," 4 June 2018 Those tidal interactions sucked away even more orbital energy, tightening the neutron stars’ orbit and hastening their collision. — Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, "Gravitational Waves Reveal the Hearts of Neutron Stars," 5 June 2018 That is because oxygen−16, containing two fewer neutrons and therefore lighter than oxygen−18, evaporates more easily from the ocean but does not rain out again as readily. — Christopher Mooney, BostonGlobe.com, "Scientists may have solved a huge riddle that led to more than 1,000 years of cold on Earth. It doesn’t bode well," 12 July 2018 The free electron can react with protons (which make up the atomic nucleus along with neutrons) in water to form hydrogen. — Charles W. Dunnill, Scientific American, "Method of Making Oxygen from Water in Zero Gravity Raises Hope for Long-Distance Space Travel," 10 July 2018 The chemistry was clear if puzzling: Bombarding uranium with neutrons produced barium, element 56, about half as heavy as uranium, element 92. — New York Times, "Letters to the Editor," 2 Mar. 2018 But there’s much more—protons and neutrons are made up of quarks held together by gluons, one of several types of boson. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "The Large Hadron Collider Is Getting A Huge Power Boost," 19 June 2018 The result was highly efficient fusion, 500 times better neutron generation per unit of laser energy. — Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, "Small-Scale Nuclear Fusion Experiment Produces Record Efficiencies," 16 Mar. 2018 Of GUTs’ predictions, only the proton and neutron decay being sought by Super-Kamiokande seems testable. — The Economist, "Particle physicsFundamental physics is frustrating physicists," 13 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'neutron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for neutron
neutron
noun
English Language Learners Definition of neutron
physics : a very small particle of matter that has no electrical charge and is part of the nucleus of all atoms except hydrogen atoms
See the full definition for neutron in the English Language Learners Dictionary
neutron
noun
ˈnyü- \
Kids Definition of neutron
: a particle that has a mass nearly equal to that of the proton but no electrical charge and that is present in all atomic nuclei except those of hydrogen
neutron
noun
\
Medical Definition of neutron
: an uncharged elementary particle that has a mass nearly equal to that of the proton and is present in all known atomic nuclei except the hydrogen nucleus
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