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cyclotron

American  
[sahy-kluh-tron, sik-luh-] / ˈsaɪ kləˌtrɒn, ˈsɪk lə- /

noun

Physics.

  1. an accelerator in which particles are propelled in spiral paths by the use of a constant magnetic field.

cyclotron British  
/ ˈsaɪkləˌtrɒn /

noun

  1. a type of particle accelerator in which the particles spiral inside two D-shaped hollow metal electrodes placed facing each other under the effect of a strong vertical magnetic field, gaining energy by a high-frequency voltage applied between these electrodes

"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
cyclotron Scientific  
/ sī′klə-trŏn′ /

  1. A type of particle accelerator that accelerates charged subatomic particles, such as protons and electrons, in an outwardly spiraling path, greatly increasing their energies. Cyclotrons are used to bring about high-speed particle collisions in order to study subatomic structures.

  2. Compare linear accelerator See also synchrocyclotron See Note at particle accelerator

cyclotron Cultural  

  1. The first kind of particle accelerator built.

Discover More

Cyclotrons are now used for special research projects.

Etymology

Origin of cyclotron

First recorded in 1930–35; cyclo- + -tron

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The centre in London is huge, with a vast cyclotron buried five stories underground and powering the proton beam 24 hours a day, Dr Hiley said.

From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026

Looking up can make you feel you are within a cyclotron, sucked up like the figures you are watching.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

Researchers carefully controlled the initial fuel gas pressure and applied electron cyclotron resonance heating during the startup phase of each discharge.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2026

They needed antimatter for a new experiment, so they made their own, using a machine called a cyclotron.

From Scientific American • Mar. 16, 2023

Alvarez’s caution to Lawrence about his treatment of Wick had yielded to his intense loyalty to his boss; he barred Steinberger from access to the 184-inch cyclotron, which Steinberger needed to complete an important experiment.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.