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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
Among a handful of engineering hurdles involved in opening that window, the highest would be putting a heavy object into its ground state and sensing it jumping to its next-lowest-energy state.
—
Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined above
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 7 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
ground state
noun
: the energy level of a physical system (as an atom) having the least energy of all its possible states
More from Merriam-Webster on ground state
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ground state
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