tau
[ tou, taw for 1, 2, 4; tahv, tawv for 3 ]
/ taʊ, tɔ for 1, 2, 4; tɑv, tɔv for 3 /
noun
the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet (T, τ).
the consonant sound represented by this letter.
tav.
Also tau·on [tou-on] /ˈtaʊ ɒn/. Physics. tau lepton.
Also called tau protein. Biochemistry. a protein that is an important component of nerve cells, helping to maintain their function and structure: in the brain, distortions in the protein’s molecular shape is associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
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Origin of tau
1250–1300; Middle English < Latin < Greek taû < Semitic; cf. tav
Words nearby tau
tattoo, tattva, tatty, tatum, tatung, tau, tau cross, tau lepton, tau neutrino, tau particle, taubaté
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for tau
British Dictionary definitions for tau
tau
/ (tɔː, taʊ) /
noun
the 19th letter in the Greek alphabet (Τ, τ), a consonant, transliterated as t
Word Origin for tau
C13: via Latin from Greek, of Semitic origin; see tav
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Medical definitions for tau
tau
n.
The 19th letter of the Greek alphabet.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.