proton

The definition of a proton is a particle with a positive charge that is in the nucleus of an atom.

(noun)

An example of a proton is the single proton in the nucleus of a hydrogen atom.

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See proton in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Particle Physics a nucleon carrying a positive charge equal to the negative charge of an electron and having a mass of c. 1.673 × 10kg (c. 938.2796 MeV/c, c. 1,836 times the mass of an electron): the number of protons in an atom determines the atomic number of a chemical element

Origin: ModL < Gr prōton, neut. of prōtos, first: see proto-

See proton in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun Abbr. p
A stable, positively charged subatomic particle in the baryon family having a mass 1,836 times that of the electron. See Table at subatomic particle.

Origin:

Origin: From Greek prōton

Origin: , neuter of prōtos, first; see per1 in Indo-European roots

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Related Forms:

  • pro·tonˈic adjective

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