gluon

American  

[gloo-on] / ˈglu ɒn /

noun

Physics.

1. a massless particle with spin 1 that transmits the strong force between quarks, binding them together into baryons and mesons.

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gluon British  

/ ˈɡluːɒn /

noun

1. a hypothetical particle believed to be exchanged between quarks in order to bind them together to form particles

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gluon Scientific  

/ glo̅o̅′ŏn /

1. The subatomic particle that mediates the strong force. The exchange of gluons between two quarks changes the color of the quarks and results in the attractive force holding them together in hadrons. Gluons are bosons.

2. See Table at subatomic particle

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Etymology

Origin of gluon

First recorded in 1970–75; glue + -on ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gluon

These often originate when a quark or gluon from one nucleus strikes a quark or gluon from another, sending two particle jets traveling in opposite directions.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026

Each individual gluon, including those forming the junction, therefore carries a smaller portion of the proton's total momentum.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

At the same time, the three-pronged gluon junction could behave somewhat like a Y-shaped magnet, drawing in three newly created quarks from the vacuum and producing a new baryon.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026

The electromagnetic force is conveyed by the photon, the strong force by the gluon, and the weak force by particles called the W boson and Z boson.

From Science Magazine ● Mar. 27, 2024

The fact that confinement prevents one from observing an isolated quark or gluon might seem to make the whole notion of quarks and gluons as particles somewhat metaphysical.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking

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