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definitions

positron

[poz-i-tron]
noun Physics.
  1. an elementary particle having the same mass and spin as an electron but having a positive charge equal in magnitude to that of the electron's negative charge; the antiparticle of the electron.

Origin of positron

First recorded in 1930–35; posi(tive) + (elec)tron
Also called antielectron, positive electron.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for positron

Contemporary Examples of positron

Historical Examples of positron

  • These units are the positron, the negatron, and the neutron.

    Cube Root of Conquest

    Roger Phillips Graham

  • The design of the electron brain had completely ignored the polarity of the positron.

    Joy Ride

    Mark Meadows

  • As I am the only scholar in my field—the polarity of the positron—I have never been asked for information.

    Joy Ride

    Mark Meadows

British Dictionary definitions for positron

positron

noun
  1. physics the antiparticle of the electron, having the same mass but an equal and opposite charge. It is produced in certain decay processes and in pair production, annihilation occurring when it collides with an electron

Word Origin for positron

C20: from posi (tive + elec) tron
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
Word Origin and History for positron
n.

1933, coined from posi(tive) (elec)tron.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
positron in Medicine

positron

[pŏz′ĭ-trŏn′]
n.
  1. A positively charged particle of the same mass and magnitude of charge as an electron.antielectron positive electron
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
positron in Science

positron

[pŏz′ĭ-trŏn′]
  1. The antiparticle that corresponds to an electron. Also called antielectron
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
positron in Culture

positron

[(poz-i-tron)]

The antiparticle for an electron; it has the same mass as an electron, but carries a positive charge.

Note

Positrons are found in collisions initiated by cosmic rays.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.