subatomic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a process that occurs within an atom.
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noting or pertaining to a particle or particles contained in an atom, as electrons, protons, or neutrons.
adjective
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of, relating to, or being a particle making up an atom or a process occurring within atoms
the electron is a subatomic particle
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having dimensions smaller than atomic dimensions
Etymology
Origin of subatomic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even though it is much larger than individual subatomic particles, it still follows the laws of quantum mechanics.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
Thinking at cosmic and subatomic scales requires plenty of math—or some visual metaphors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 15, 2026
In 2023, scientists detected a subatomic particle called a neutrino hitting Earth with an energy level so extreme it seemed impossible.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 8, 2026
I often wonder: Does their categorizing need extend to the subatomic realm?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 6, 2026
When a subatomic particle travels very fast, it survives longer than expected before it decays, because its clock is slow.
From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
