antiatom

[ an-tee-at-uhm, an-tahy- ]

noun

, Physics.

1. an atom of antimatter.

antiatom

/ ăn′tē-ăt′əm,ăn′tī- /

1. An atom composed of antiparticles. An antiatom consists of positrons, antiprotons, and antineutrons. It has the same mass and spin as an ordinary atom, and the same amount of charge and magnetic moment, but the charge and magnetic moment are the opposite of those of an ordinary atom.

Word History and Origins

Origin of antiatom¹

First recorded in 1965–70; anti- + atom

Example Sentences

In a new experiment, an ultraviolet laser quelled the thermal jitters of antihydrogen atoms, chilling the antiatoms to just above absolute zero.

From Science News

Comparing antiatoms with normal atoms could test some fundamental symmetries of the universe.

From Science News

Taming unruly antimatter with laser light may also allow physicists to measure the properties of antiatoms much more precisely, researchers report in the April 1 Nature.

From Science News