hadron

noun

had·​ron ˈha-ˌdrän How to pronounce hadron (audio)
: any of the subatomic particles (such as protons and neutrons) that are made up of quarks and are subject to the strong force
hadronic
ha-ˈdrä-nik How to pronounce hadron (audio)
adjective

Examples of hadron in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Both the colored gluons and quarks are imprisoned within hadrons. — Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 Because gluons are the carriers of the strong force, their effects are active only within length scales that are bounded by a typical hadron size, which is roughly the proton radius (that is, less than one femtometer). — Aaron Shattuck, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary hadr- thick, heavy (from Greek hadros thick) + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hadron was in 1962

Rhymes for hadron

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Cite this Entry

“Hadron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hadron. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hadron

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