gamma

[ gam-uh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the third letter of the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ).
the consonant sound represented by this letter.
the third in a series of items.
Gamma, Astronomy. a star that is usually the third brightest of a constellation:
The third brightest star in the Southern Cross is Gamma Crucis.
a unit of weight equal to one microgram.
Physics. a unit of magnetic field strength, equal to 10− 5 gauss.
Photography. a measure of the degree of development of a negative or print.
Television. an analogous numerical indication of the degree of contrast between light and dark in the reproduction of an image in television.
Chiefly British. a grade showing that an individual student is in the third, or lowest, of three scholastic sections in a class. Compare alpha ( def 8 ), beta ( def 9 ).

Gamma

/ ˈɡæmə /

foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation the third brightest star in a constellation
Gamma Leonis

gamma

/ ˈɡæmə /

the third letter in the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ), a consonant, transliterated as g. When double, it is transcribed and pronounced as ng
the third highest grade or mark, as in an examination
a unit of magnetic field strength equal to 10 ^–5oersted. 1 gamma is equivalent to 0.795 775 × 10 ^–3ampere per metre
photog television the numerical value of the slope of the characteristic curve of a photographic emulsion or television camera; a measure of the contrast reproduced in a photographic or television image
modifier
1. involving or relating to photons of very high energy
  a gamma detector
2. relating to one of two or more allotropes or crystal structures of a solid
  gamma iron
3. relating to one of two or more isomeric forms of a chemical compound, esp one in which a group is attached to the carbon atom next but one to the atom to which the principal group is attached

Origin of gamma¹

From the Greek word gámma

Origin of gamma¹

C14: from Greek; related to Hebrew gīmel third letter of the Hebrew alphabet (probably: camel)

Browse