deuteron

American  

[doo-tuh-ron, dyoo-] / ˈdu təˌrɒn, ˈdyu- /

noun

Physics.

1. a positively charged particle consisting of a proton and a neutron, equivalent to the nucleus of an atom of deuterium.

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deuteron British  

/ ˈdjuːtəˌrɒn /

noun

1. the nucleus of a deuterium atom, consisting of one proton and one neutron

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deuteron Scientific  

/ do̅o̅′tə-rŏn′ /

1. The nucleus of a deuterium atom, consisting of a proton and a neutron. It is regarded as a subatomic particle with unit positive charge.

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Etymology

Origin of deuteron

1933; < Greek deúter ( os ) second + -on ¹

Example Sentences

A deuteron contains just one proton and one neutron, held together by a relatively weak force.

From Science Daily • Dec. 27, 2025

In HD+, a proton is replaced by a deuteron, which makes the molecule more accessible in spectroscopic terms.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024

The deuteron is a bound state of a proton and a neutron, and the binding comes from the strong force, which is carried by gluons.

From Scientific American • Feb. 20, 2022

Ultraprecise measurements of the proton and deuteron masses can be used to predict the quantum states of a molecule made of a deuteron and a hydrogen atom, which can be probed by lasers.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 30, 2021

Ernest presided happily over all this activity without bothering himself too much about the experimental results, notwithstanding the lesson of the deuteron fiasco.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik