strangeness

[ streynj-nis ]
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noun
  1. the quality or condition of being strange.

  2. Physics. a quantum number assigned the value −1 for one kind of quark, +1 for its antiquark, and 0 for all other quarks; the strangeness of a hadron is the sum of the values for the strangeness of its constituent quarks and antiquarks. Symbol: S

Origin of strangeness

1
Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at strange, -ness

Words Nearby strangeness

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British Dictionary definitions for strangeness

strangeness

/ (ˈstreɪndʒnɪs) /


noun
  1. the state or quality of being strange

  2. physics a property of certain elementary particles, characterized by a quantum number (strangeness number) conserved in strong and electromagnetic but not in weak interactions. It is associated with the presence of strange quarks

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 strangeness

strangeness

[ strānjnĭs ]


  1. The property of containing a strange quark or antiquark. Strangeness is expressed in terms of an integer quantum number, -1 for each strange quark and +1 for each strange antiquark. Hadrons that possess strangeness are called strange. The total strangeness of a quantum system is unchanged by decay processes involving the strong or electromagnetic forces; however, decay through the weak force can change the total strangeness of the system. See also baryon number isospin.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.