parton
noun
a constituent of the nucleon originally postulated in the theoretical analysis of high-energy scattering of electrons by nucleons and subsequently identified with quarks and gluons.
parton
American
[pahr-ton]
/ ˈpɑr tɒn /
noun
Physics.
Parton
1
British
/ ˈpɑːtən /
noun
parton
2
British
/ ˈpɑːˌtɒn /
noun
Etymology
Origin of parton
1965–70; part(icle) + -on 1; coined by R. P. Feynman
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.
See Examples For:
The parton stage looks especially chaotic, with many particles interacting at once.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 5, 2026
"The only country singer i know i can trust is dolly parton."
From Fox News ● Aug. 18, 2021
When the Gen-Z sheriff and “Old Town Road” mastermind Lil Nas X wondered aloud, on Twitter, “y’all think i can get dolly parton and megan thee stallion on an old town road remix?,”
From New York Times ● Nov. 21, 2019
This immediately explained the success of the parton model, but it also suggested that if quarks get further apart, the QCD interactions between them get stronger, potentially explaining confinement.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 6, 2019
I own it, I own it, lat, ant hope t'e Lort, in his great marcy, wilt forgif ant parton t'e great mistake I mate.
From The Chainbearer Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts by James Fenimore Cooper
Yes, her 2017 collection “Younger Now” had some country touches and included a guest spot from Ms. Parton, but she hasn’t yet fully embraced the style, despite the vast commercial potential.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026
Parton was also inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2022.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 21, 2026
In a news release, CMA described the special as a “joyful, emotional celebration” dedicated to Parton, the rhinestone-studded singer whose life began humbly, in a one-room cabin at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Elsewhere on the night, Remarkably Smart Creatures actress Sally Field, who starred in Steel Magnolias opposite Dolly Parton, led a tribute to the country music star, who died last month.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
“Well, I’ve always thought pageants were dumb, but I thought that about Dolly Parton, too.”
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
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.
