pion

[ pahy-on ]

nounPhysics.
  1. the first meson to be discovered: it has spin 0 and may be positively or negatively charged or neutral; charged pions decay into a muon and a neutrino or antineutrino. Symbol: π

Origin of pion

1
First recorded in 1950–55; pi (meson) + -on1

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British Dictionary definitions for pion

pion

pi meson

/ (ˈpaɪɒn) /


noun
  1. physics a meson having a positive or negative charge and a rest mass 273.13 times that of the electron, or no charge and a rest mass 264.14 times that of the electron

Origin of pion

1
C20: from Greek letter pi 1 + on

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for pion

pion

[ ŏn′ ]


  1. A meson occurring either in a neutral form with a mass 264 times that of an electron and a mean lifetime of 8.4 X 10-17 seconds or in a positively or negatively charged form with a mass 273 times that of an electron and a mean lifetime of 2.6 X 10-8 seconds. The pion was once believed to be the particle that mediates the strong force, which holds nucleons together in the nucleus; it is now believed that the gluon is the mediator particle. Pions do interact with nucleons, however, and are able to transform neutrons into protons and vice versa. Also called pi-meson See Table at subatomic particle.

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