Brownian motion
[ brou-nee-uhn moh-shuhn ]
/ ˈbraʊ ni ən ˈmoʊ ʃən /
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noun Physics.
the irregular motion of small particles suspended in a liquid or a gas, caused by the bombardment of the particles by molecules of the medium: first observed by Scottish botanist Robert Brown in 1827.
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Also called Brown·i·an move·ment [brou-nee-uhn moov -muhnt]. /ˈbraʊ ni ən ˈmuv mənt/.
Origin of Brownian motion
1870–75; Brown + -ian
Words nearby Brownian motion
brownfield, brown goods, brown hackle, brown heart, brown hyena, Brownian motion, Brownian movement, brownie, Brownie Guide, Brownie Guider, Brownie point
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use Brownian motion in a sentence
Scientific definitions for Brownian motion
Brownian motion
[ brou′nē-ən ]
The random movement of microscopic particles suspended in a liquid or gas, caused by collisions between these particles and the molecules of the liquid or gas. This movement is named for its identifier, Scottish botanist Robert Brown (1773-1858). See also kinetic theory.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for Brownian motion
Brownian motion
The erratic motion, visible through a microscope, of small grains suspended in a fluid. The motion results from collisions between the grains and atoms or molecules in the fluid.
notes for Brownian motion
Brownian motion was first explained by the twentieth-century physicist Albert Einstein, who considered it direct proof of the existence of atoms.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.