soliton

noun

sol·​i·​ton ˈsä-lə-ˌtän How to pronounce soliton (audio)
: a solitary wave (as in a gaseous plasma) that propagates with little loss of energy and retains its shape and speed after colliding with another such wave

Examples of soliton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The researchers’ simulations successfully recreated what a topological soliton would look like if placed in front of a camera lens. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023 The resulting topological soliton is a purely hypothetical entity, but one that adheres to both string theory and Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023 So, while the frequency of WIMPs should gently decline with distance from the core of a galaxy, axions should form a standing wave (technically, a soliton) that boosts their frequency near the galactic core. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'soliton.' 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

solitary + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soliton was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near soliton

Cite this Entry

“Soliton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soliton. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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