CERN

American  

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

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CERN British  

/ sɜːn /

acronym

1. 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

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CERN Cultural  

1. 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.

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

Etymology

Origin of CERN

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

Example Sentences

He added that the UK was and would continue to be the second biggest funder of particle physics experiments at CERN.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Mark Thomson, the new head of Europe's physics laboratory CERN, voiced confidence Tuesday about raising the billions of dollars needed to build by far the world's biggest particle accelerator.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Israel is the only non-European full member of CERN, which was established in 1954.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 1, 2024

CERN, which has shelves of empty Champagne bottles commemorating great moments lining its control room, asked if it could have the can, but Dr. Higgs had already thrown it away.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2024

A year later, at a Geneva symposium sponsored by CERN, Ernest ran into Stan Livingston.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik