isotope
noun
iso·tope
ˈī-sə-ˌtōp 
1
: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
2
: nuclide
Examples of isotope in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The ongoing Tc-99m shortage underscores the need for a more resilient and diversified supply chain for medical isotopes.
—
Omer Awan, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
An array of radioactive substances had been released during the disaster, including plutonium and uranium, but scientists were also on the lookout for harmful levels of radioactive cesium and iodine isotopes, which turned out to be the abundant and far-reaching contaminants of agricultural land.
—Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024
In many fission reactions, researchers send a neutron toward a lighter isotope of uranium, uranium-235.
—Dan Kotlyar, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2024
There are various things—tree rings, isotope ratios, and more—that register temperatures in the past.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for isotope 
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Omer Awan, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
An array of radioactive substances had been released during the disaster, including plutonium and uranium, but scientists were also on the lookout for harmful levels of radioactive cesium and iodine isotopes, which turned out to be the abundant and far-reaching contaminants of agricultural land.
—Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024
In many fission reactions, researchers send a neutron toward a lighter isotope of uranium, uranium-235.
—Dan Kotlyar, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2024
There are various things—tree rings, isotope ratios, and more—that register temperatures in the past.
—John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for isotope
Dictionary Entries Near isotope
Cite this Entry
“Isotope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/isotope. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
isotope
noun
iso·tope
ˈī-sə-ˌtōp
: any of the forms of an element that differ in the number of neutrons in an atom
Medical Definition
isotope
noun
iso·tope
ˈī-sə-ˌtōp
1
: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties
2
: nuclide
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