quantum jump

See synonyms for quantum jump on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. Physics. an abrupt transition of a system described by quantum mechanics from one of its discrete states to another, as the fall of an electron in an atom to an orbit of lower energy.

  2. any sudden and significant change, advance, or increase.

Origin of quantum jump

1
First recorded in 1925–30
  • Also called quantum leap .

Words Nearby quantum jump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use quantum jump in a sentence

  • I have something to tell you,” said Brandon grinning, “about the quantum jump.

    The Quantum Jump | Robert Wicks

Scientific definitions for quantum jump

quantum jump

  1. A change from one quantum state to another, as when an electron orbiting a nucleus moves from one shell to another with the loss or gain of a quantum of energy.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.