proton

noun

pro·​ton ˈprō-ˌtän 

: an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with the neutron is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of 1.673 × 10⁻²⁷ kilogram

protonic

prō-ˈtä-nik 

adjective

Examples of proton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Then, to corroborate the models, Person turned to isotopes—atoms with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. —Hannah Richter, Ars Technica, 20 May 2024

What the target is made of depends on how many protons the researchers want in the final product. —Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 14 May 2024

The high-energy protons healed the damage caused by the low-energy protons, allowing the device to recover and continue doing its job. —Ahmad Kirmani, Discover Magazine, 25 June 2024

Photo: Netflix Liu Cixin’s Hugo Award–winning sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem is full of huge ideas: 11-dimensional proton supercomputers! —Zing Tsjeng, Vulture, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek prōton, neuter of prōtos first — more at proto-

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing proton

• proton pump inhibitor
• proton synchrotron

Kids Definition

proton

noun

pro·​ton ˈprō-ˌtän 

: an atomic particle that occurs in the nucleus of every atom and carries a positive charge equal in size to the negative charge of an electron

protonic

prō-ˈtän-ik 

adjective

Medical Definition

proton

noun

pro·​ton ˈprō-ˌtän 

: an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom, that along with neutrons is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of 1.673×10⁻²⁴ gram

protonic

prō-ˈtän-ik 

adjective