neutron

noun

neu·tron | \ ˈnü-ˌträn

, 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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The weapons work by accelerating particles without an electric charge—particularly neutrons—to speeds close to the speed of light and directing them against a target. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Pentagon Wants to Test a Space-Based 'Particle Beam' by 2023," 18 Mar. 2019 Of special interest are the most neutron-rich nuclei, as astrophysical events proceed in neutron-rich environments. — Scientific American, "Readers Respond to the March 2018 Issue," 13 Mar. 2018 Universes with a stronger weak force would have stars with more helium-3, which is a helium atom missing a neutron from its nucleus. — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, "Why Alternate Universes Might Also Host Life Around their Stars," 26 Sep. 2018 Such an unshielded missile would have generated a very intense flux of neutrons, so simply being in close proximity to it would have been lethal. — Larry Greenemeier, Scientific American, "Russia’s New Nukes Are Similar to a Risky Project the U.S. Abandoned," 2 Mar. 2018 The Senate also introduced a second bill called the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act (S. 3422) last Thursday, which would direct the DOE to actually establish that fast neutron reactor. — Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, "US Congress passes bill to help advanced nuclear power," 16 Sep. 2018 Universes with a weaker weak force would have stars with more deuterium, which is a hydrogen atom with an extra neutron within its nucleus. — Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, "Why Alternate Universes Might Also Host Life Around their Stars," 26 Sep. 2018 These observations confirmed that these collisions act as factories for heavy, neutron-rich elements that would be difficult to form in supernovae. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Neutron-star merger blasted a jet of material through the debris," 5 Sep. 2018 These isotopes differ in the number of neutrons in the oxygen atom and, according to MacLeod, behave slightly differently from one another. — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, "Dino-Killing Asteroid Impact Warmed Earth's Climate for 100,000 Years," 24 May 2018

These 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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Dictionary Entries near neutron

neutron activation analysis

neutron bomb

neutron star

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Last Updated

15 Jun 2019

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Time Traveler for neutron

The first known use of neutron was in 1921

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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

neu·tron | \ ˈnü-ˌträn

, 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

neu·tron | \ ˈn(y)ü-ˌträn

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