subatomic particle

American  

[suhb-uh-tahm-ik pahr-ti-kuhl] / ˌsʌb əˈtɑm ɪk ˈpɑr tɪ kəl /

noun

plural

subatomic particles

1. Physics. any of various basic constituents of matter that are smaller than an atom, such as a proton, electron, or gluon.

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subatomic particle Scientific  

/ sŭb′ə-tŏm′ĭk /

1. Any of various particles of matter that are smaller than a hydrogen atom. Protons, neutrons, and electrons are subatomic particles, as are all hadrons and leptons.

2. See also composite particle elementary particle

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Example Sentences

Most qubits are subatomic particles, like electrons, that are put in “superposition,” or many states at once: a 1, a 0, and all values between the two.

From The Wall Street Journal

Axions are theoretical subatomic particles that scientists believe could help explain dark matter.

From Science Daily

Quantum computers instead use qubits, which are often subatomic particles such as photons.

From Science Daily

Powerful systems like the System Two operate based on the principles of quantum mechanics, the science behind atoms, molecules, and subatomic particles.

From Barron's

That picture turned out to be wrong, since atoms are built from subatomic particles rather than twists in space.

From Science Daily