-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
elementary particle
noun
: any of the particles of which matter and energy are composed or which mediate the fundamental forces of nature
especially
: one whose existence has not been attributed to the combination of other more fundamental entities
Examples of elementary particle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While the Higgs tall tales suggest that mass arises from the slowing of elementary particles by a molasses-like substance, the truth is that a stronger Higgs field makes the elementary particles vibrate at higher frequencies, thus raising their masses.
—Matt Strassler, Quanta Magazine, 3 Sep. 2024
For the Higgs field, the curvature of the sombrero’s brim is determined by the mass of the Higgs boson, the elementary particle that conveys the Higgs field’s effects, which was discovered at the Large Hadron Collider in 2012.
—Quanta Magazine, 22 July 2024
Or maybe, just maybe, the anomaly points to a monumental discovery, the existence of a new type of elementary particle called a sterile neutrino.
—Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2024
University of Edinburgh Peter Higgs, the shy, somewhat reclusive physicist who won a Nobel Prize for his theoretical work on how the Higgs boson gives elementary particles their mass, has died at the age of 94.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for elementary particle
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elementary particle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1934, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of elementary particle was
in 1934
Dictionary Entries Near elementary particle
Cite this Entry
“Elementary particle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elementary%20particle. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
elementary particle
noun
: any of the particles (as electrons or photons) of matter and energy that are smaller than atoms and do not appear to be made up of a combination of more basic things
Medical Definition
elementary particle
noun1
: any of the particles of which matter and energy are composed or which mediate the fundamental forces of nature
especially
: one (as the photon or the electron) whose existence has not been attributed to the combination of other more fundamental entities
2
: one of the structural units of mitochondrial cristae that are observable by the electron microscope usually as spheres or stalked spheres and are probably the seat of fundamental energy-producing reactions
More from Merriam-Webster on elementary particle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elementary particle
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share