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standard model

American  

noun

Physics.
  1. a mathematical description of the elementary particles of matter and the fundamental forces by which they interact and behave; a model combining electromagnetic and weak forces.


standard model British  

noun

  1. physics a theory of fundamental interactions in which the electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions are described in terms of the exchange of virtual particles

"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

standard model Scientific  
  1. A theory of subatomic particles and their interactions. The standard model is a kind of quantum field theory and states that all matter consists of three types of particles: leptons, quarks, and the gauge bosons (gluons, intermediate vector bosons, and photons), which are responsible for the strong, weak, and electromagnetic forces, along with the more controversial Higgs boson. The standard model was first formulated in the 1970s and was tested repeatedly in the 1980s. It correctly predicted the existence and properties of W and Z bosons. It does not, however, unify all forces, since it does not include an explanation of gravity; a boson called the graviton that might be the mediator of gravity has not been found and cannot be accounted for in the model.


standard model Cultural  
  1. The best theory of the ultimate nature of matter available today. In this theory, all matter is made from quarks and leptons. Particles interact with each other through the medium of the strong force, the electromagnetic force, the weak force, and the gravitational force. At high temperature, the theory sees the first three of these forces as an example of a single unified force.


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The standard model describes the early evolution of the big bang.

The standard model is a unified field theory.

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.

The other came from a commonly used line of human neuroblastoma cells that serve as a standard model in neuroscience research.

From Science Daily

The Standard Model provides a well-tested framework for understanding the fundamental forces and particles that shape the universe.

From Science Daily

"We know that the Standard Model does a great job describing a host of phenomena in the natural world," said Matthew Toups, a senior scientist at Fermilab and co-spokesperson for MicroBooNE.

From Science Daily

When the Standard Model was first developed, neutrinos were assumed to have no mass.

From Science Daily

"This is something that the Standard Model did not predict."

From Science Daily