neutron

[noo-tron, nyoo-]

noun

Physics.

1. an elementary particle having no charge, mass slightly greater than that of a proton, and spin of ½: a constituent of the nuclei of all atoms except those of hydrogen. n

neutron

/ ˈnjuːtrɒn /

noun

1. physics a neutral elementary particle with a rest mass of 1.674 92716 × 10 ^–27 kilogram and spin 1/ 2 ; classified as a baryon. In the nucleus of an atom it is stable, but when free it decays

neutron

1. An electrically neutral subatomic particle in the baryon family, having a mass of 1.674 × 10 ^{- 24} grams (1,838 times that of the electron and slightly greater than that of the proton). Neutrons are part of the nucleus of all atoms, except hydrogen, and have a mean lifetime of approximately 1.0×10 ³ seconds as free particles. They consist of a triplet of quarks, including two down quarks and one up quark, bound together by gluons. In radioactive atoms, excess neutrons are converted to protons by beta decay. Beams of neutrons from nuclear reactors are used to bombard the atoms of various elements to produce fission and other nuclear reactions and to determine the atomic arrangements in molecules.

2. See Table at subatomic particle

neutron

1. An elementary particle without an electrical charge; one of the building blocks of the nucleus of the atom. A neutron has about the same mass as a proton.

Word History and Origins

Origin of neutron¹

First recorded in 1920–25; neutr(o)- + -on ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of neutron¹

C20: from _neutral , on the model of _electron

Example Sentences

Isotopes are different versions of the same element that vary only in the number of neutrons in the nucleus and therefore in their mass.

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The team aims to observe additional black holes and neutron stars during the telescope's next planned launch from Antarctica in 2027.

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FuZE-Q, which remains in operation, is currently the company's top performer in terms of power and fusion neutron yield.

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When astatine decays, it emits alpha particles -- tiny clusters made of two protons and two neutrons -- that can release powerful, localized bursts of energy.

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At the center of each of those atoms lies the nucleus, a mash-up of even smaller particles called protons and neutrons.

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