ground state

noun

: the state of a physical system (as of an atomic nucleus or an atom) having the least energy of all the possible states

called also ground level

Examples of ground state in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Vance returns to Ohio after hitting the campaign trail on Saturday with Trump in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an important battle ground state. Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 22 July 2024 Michigan is a battle ground state, among those that Democrats hope to win to secure the presidency. Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024 When the atom interacts with, or measures, the particle, the entire system ends up in a superposition of the particle flashing and the atom absorbing this light and entering a higher energy state, and the particle not flashing and the atom remaining in its ground state. Anil Ananthaswamy, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 When cooled, these complex systems are content to settle not in their ground state, but rather at a nearby low energy level, known as a local minimum energy level. Quanta Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ground state 

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ground state was in 1926

Dictionary Entries Near ground state

Cite this Entry

“Ground state.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ground%20state. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ground state

noun
: the energy level of a physical system (as an atom) having the least energy of all its possible states

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