quantum

American  

[kwon-tuhm] / ˈkwɒn təm /

noun

PLURAL

quanta

1. quantity or amount.

   the least quantum of evidence.

2. a particular amount.

3. a share or portion.

4. a large quantity; bulk.

5. Physics.

   1. the smallest quantity of radiant energy, equal to Planck's constant times the frequency of the associated radiation.

   2. the fundamental unit of a quantized physical magnitude, as angular momentum.

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adjective

1. sudden and significant.

   a quantum increase in productivity.

quantum British  

/ ˈkwɒntəm /

noun

1. physics

   1. the smallest quantity of some physical property, such as energy, that a system can possess according to the quantum theory

   2. a particle with such a unit of energy

2. amount or quantity, esp a specific amount

3. (often used with a negative) the least possible amount that can suffice

   there is not a quantum of evidence for your accusation

4. something that can be quantified or measured

5. (modifier) loosely, sudden, spectacular, or vitally important

   a quantum improvement

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quantum Scientific  

/ kwŏn′təm /

PLURAL

quanta

1. A discrete, indivisible manifestation of a physical property, such as a force or angular momentum. Some quanta take the form of elementary particles; for example, the quantum of electromagnetic radiation is the photon, while the quanta of the weak force are the W and Z particles.

2. See also quantum state

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Etymology

Origin of quantum

1610–20; noun use of neuter of Latin quantus how much

Example Sentences

As competition intensifies to create the first reliable, large-scale commercial quantum computer, a critical issue has become harder to ignore.

From Science Daily

The 26-member team includes eight Ph.D.s, including Kosowski, a theoretical computer scientist, mathematician and quantum physicist who received his doctorate at age 20.

From The Wall Street Journal

Quantum cryptography offers a promising defense by using the rules of quantum physics to secure communication against eavesdropping.

From Science Daily

Now, however, women's involvement took a quantum leap.

From BBC

Later in his career, in similar vein, he wrote Hapgood, a play about espionage and quantum physics, and Arcadia, about mathematics, thermodynamics, literature, and landscape gardening.

From BBC