strong force

American  

noun

Physics.

1. Also called nuclear force.  the short-range attractive force between baryons that holds together the nucleus of the atom.

2. Also called color force.  the force between quarks.

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strong force Scientific  

/ strông /

1. The fundamental force that mediates interactions between particles with color charge, such as quarks and gluons. The strong force binds quarks together to form baryons such as protons and neutrons, maintains the binding of protons and neutrons together in atomic nuclei, and is responsible for many particle decay processes. Particles that interact through the strong force exchange gluons, much as particles involved in electromagnetic interactions exchange photons. Quark color, but not flavor, is changed by the exchange of gluons. The strong force is stronger than the weak force, the electromagnetic force, and gravity, but has been known to apply only across distances the size of atomic nuclei or smaller.

2. Also called color force strong interaction, strong nuclear force

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strong force Cultural  

1. In physics, the force that holds particles together in the atomic nucleus and the force that holds quarks together in elementary particles.

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Discover More

As the name implies, this is the strongest force known in nature.

Etymology

Origin of strong force

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

Unlike gravity or electromagnetism, the strong force becomes stronger as particles move farther apart, similar to a rubber band stretching tighter the more it is pulled.

From Science Daily • May 19, 2026

The electromagnetic force is conveyed by the photon, the strong force by the gluon, and the weak force by particles called the W boson and Z boson.

From Science Magazine • Mar. 27, 2024

The research has now revealed, for the first time, a snapshot of the distribution of the strong force inside the proton.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2024

“Christmas is such a strong force at this time of year,” Melody says.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 21, 2023

Eventually there would be what is called a phase transition and the symmetry between the forces would be broken: the strong force would become different from the weak and electromagnetic forces.

From "A Brief History of Time: And Other Essays" by Stephen Hawking