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Gamma

 - 9 dictionary results

gam⋅ma

[gam-uh]
–noun
1. the third letter of the Greek alphabet (Γ, γ).
2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.
3. the third in a series of items.
4. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. a star that is usually the third brightest of a constellation: The third brightest star in the Southern Cross is Gamma Crucis.
5. a unit of weight equal to one microgram.
6. Physics. a unit of magnetic field strength, equal to 10−5 gauss.
7. Photography. a measure of the degree of development of a negative or print.
8. Television. an analogous numerical indication of the degree of contrast between light and dark in the reproduction of an image in television.
9. 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. 7), beta (def. 8).

Origin:
< Gk gámma
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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gam·ma   (gām'ə)   
n.  
  1. The third letter of the Greek alphabet. See Table at alphabet.

  2. The third item in a series or system of classification.

  3. A unit of magnetic intensity equal to one hundred thousandth (10-5) of an oersted.

  4. A unit of mass equal to one millionth (10-6) of a gram.

  5. Chemistry The third position from a designated carbon atom in an organic molecule at which an atom or a radical may be substituted.


[Middle English, from Greek, of Phoenician origin; see gml2 in Semitic roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

gamma 
"third letter of the Greek alphabet," c.1400, from Gk. gamma, from Phoenician gimel, lit. "camel." Gamma rays (1903) were originally thought to be a third type of radiation, now known to be identical with very short X-rays.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Financial Dictionary

Gamma

The rate of change for delta with respect to the underlying asset's price.

Investopedia Commentary

Mathematically, gamma is the first derivative of delta and is used when trying to gauge the price of an option relative to the amount it is in or out of the money.

When the option being measured is deep in or out of the money, gamma is small. When the option is near the money, gamma is largest.

See also: Delta, Gamma Neutral, Greeks, In the Money, Option, Out of the Money, Strike Price

Also spelled: gama

Investopedia.com. Copyright © 1999-2005 - All rights reserved. Owned and Operated by Investopedia Inc.
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Financial Dictionary

gamma

The sensitivity of an option's delta to changes in the price of the underlying asset. The gamma of an option is greatest when an option is near the money (strike price close to market price of underlying asset) and near zero when an option is deep out of the money.

Wall Street Words: An A to Z Guide to Investment Terms by David L. Scott.
Copyright © 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 1gam·ma
Pronunciation: 'gam-&
Function: noun
1 : the third letter of the Greek alphabet —symbol Γ orγ
2 : a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one nanotesla
3 : GAMMA RAY—usually used as the attributive form of gamma ray <gamma counter>
4 : MICROGRAM1

Main Entry: 2gamma
Variant: or γ-
Function: adjective
1 : of or relating to one of three or more closely related chemicalsubstances gamma chain of hemoglobin> <γ-yohimbine> —used somewhat arbitrarily to specify ordinal relationship or a particular physical form and especially one thatis allotropic, isomeric, or stereoisomeric (as in gamma benzene hexachloride)
2 : third in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom;also : occurring at or having a structure characterized by such a position <γ-hydroxy acids>
3 of streptococci : producing no hemolysis onblood agar plates
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

gamma gam·ma (gām'ə)
n.


  1. Symbol γ The third letter of the Greek alphabet.

  2. The third item in a series or system of classification.

  3. The third position from a designated carbon atom in an organic molecule at which an atom or a radical may be substituted.

  4. A unit of magnetic field strength equal to one hundred thousandth (10-5) of an oersted.

  5. A unit of mass equal to one millionth (10-6) of a gram.

adj.
  1. Relating to or being the atom or radical group that is in the third position relative to the functional group of atoms in an organic molecule.

  2. Relating to or characterizing a polypeptide chain that is one of five types of heavy chains that may be present in immunoglobins.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Computing Dictionary

GAMMA language
1. A language for matrices and generation of mathematical programming reports.
["GAMMA 3.3 for MPS/MPSX, IBM System:/360", Bonnor & Moore Assocs (Mar 1975)].
2. A high-level parallel language.
[Research Directions in High-Level Parallel Languages, LeMetayer ed, Springer 1992].
(1994-11-29)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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