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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The core becomes so intensely squeezed that the iron atoms rearrange themselves; the electrons shove inside of protons, turning all of the iron into a giant ball of neutrons. —Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023

To an extent, this is similar to the question of where the mass of a proton is. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 3 Apr. 2023

Alternative fuel made of protons and boron generates no neutrons and produces only harmless helium, but requires a temperature of 3 billion degrees Celsius—200 times the heat of the Sun’s core—to burn. —Byscience News Staff, science.org, 2 Mar. 2023

And the third is a radiation storm fueled by accelerating energy particles like protons, elections, and ions. —Jon Kelvey, Popular Science, 27 Feb. 2023

It is likely caused by electrons—a by-product of the protons that trigger the typical green aurora—raining onto Earth's magnetic field. —Sasha Warren, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2022

This electrostatic shield guards against proton storms caused by explosions from the sun called coronal mass ejections, and could be deployed only during those events while the ship relies on another system for day-to-day protection. —Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 8 May 2023

But in 1979, Argonne shut down its proton accelerator, which had been superseded by a much bigger, new one at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory 50 kilometers away. —Byadrian Cho, science.org, 4 May 2023

Strings also appear in the way the strong force acts among quarks, which are the elementary particles that make up a proton. —Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 18 Apr. 2023

See More

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

• 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