CERN

Save This Word!

European Laboratory for Particle Physics; formerly called European Organization for Nuclear Research: an international research organization based in Geneva, Switzerland.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of CERN

<French, for C(onseil) e(uropéen pour la) r(echerche) n(ucléaire)

Words nearby CERN

cerium, cerium metal, cerium metals, Cerlox, cermet, CERN, Cernan, Cernăuţi, Cernuda, cernuous, cero

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use CERN in a sentence

That boxy, black desktop, which cost CERN around $10,000 at the time, has spawned a sprawling and largely unregulated universe.
World Wide Web Turns 25|Nico Hines|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In July 2012, headlines screamed of the possible discovery of the “God particle” by scientists at CERN.
Give It Up for the Other Nobel Prize Winners|Nina Strochlic|October 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Correction: An original version of this article stated that CERN was on the east side of Geneva.
The Higgs Boson: Why You Should Care|Daniel Stone|July 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Unlike the CERN researchers I do not “sweat the small stuff”.
God: Great Job On Finding My Particle!|God, David Javerbaum|July 6, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for CERN

CERN

/ (sɜːn) /

n acronym for

Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire; an organization of European states with a centre in Geneva for research in high-energy particle physics, now called the European Laboratory for Particle Physics

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

Cultural definitions for CERN

CERN

An acronym for French words meaning European Center for Nuclear Research. Supported by a consortium of European countries, CERN is an advanced scientific research institute in Geneva, Switzerland. It is one of the premier locations for particle physics research.

notes for CERN

After the year 2007, CERN will be the location of the world's largest particle accelerator.