lepton

1 of 2

noun (1)

lep·​ton lep-ˈtän 

plural lepta lep-ˈtä 

: a former monetary unit equal to ¹/₁₀₀ drachma

lepton

2 of 2

noun (2)

lep·​ton ˈlep-ˌtän 

: any of a family of particles (such as electrons, muons, and neutrinos) that have spin quantum number ¹/₂ and that experience no strong forces

leptonic

lep-ˈtä-nik 

adjective

Examples of lepton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

By 1967, Steve Weinberg had extended the Higgs mechanism to account for the mass of electrons and heavier leptons, and in 1971, Gerard ‘t Hooft and Martinus Veltman figured out how to get rid of a few annoying infinities in some of the equations. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 9 Apr. 2024

Their efforts have led to the Standard Model of particle physics, which describes the most fundamental ingredients of matter (leptons and quarks) and the forces that control them (the electromagnetic, strong and weak forces). —Daniel Garisto, Scientific American, 13 Dec. 2023

Another possibility is a new type of particle called a leptoquark—a strange kind of boson that shares properties with quarks as well as leptons such as the muon. —Marcela Carena, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2021

Fermions make up all the matter in the Universe and include leptons and quarks. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2023

The more exotic possibility is that LHCb researchers are detecting hints of a fabled particle — the leptoquark — that can turn a quark into a lepton and vice versa. —Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2020

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Modern Greek, from Greek, a small coin, from neuter of leptos peeled, slender, small, from lepein to peel — more at leper

Noun (2)

Greek leptos + English -on entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1741, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1929, in the meaning defined above