Meson - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A meson is a subatomic particle made of a quark and an antiquark, found in atomic nuclei. It plays a key role in holding protons and neutrons together through the strong nuclear force.
Definition:
A subatomic particle with intermediate mass between an electron and a proton.
Synonyms:
pion, kaon, hadron
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
fermion, lepton
Common Collocations:
meson decay, meson particle, meson theory
Derivatives:
mesonic, mesotron
Usage Tips:
Use "meson" in physics contexts to refer to particles composed of quarks and antiquarks.
Common Phrases:
meson field, meson exchange, heavy meson
Etymology:
From Greek "mesos" (middle) + "-on" (suffix for particles), coined in 1935 by Hideki Yukawa.
Examples:
- 1. The meson was discovered in cosmic rays.
- 2. Scientists study mesons to understand strong nuclear forces.
- 3. This experiment confirmed the existence of a new meson.
- 4. Mesons are unstable and decay quickly into other particles.