[bar-ee-on] 
| a proton, neutron, or any elementary particle that decays into a set of particles that includes a proton. |
| bar·y·on (bār'ē-ŏn') n. Any of a family of subatomic particles, including the nucleon and hyperon multiplets, that participate in strong interactions, are composed of three quarks, and are generally more massive than mesons. Also called heavy particle. See Table at subatomic particle. [Greek barus, heavy; see gwerə-1 in Indo-European roots + -on1.] bar'y·on'ic adj. |
| baryon (bār'ē-ŏn') Pronunciation Key
Any of a family of subatomic particles composed of three quarks or three antiquarks. They are generally more massive than mesons, and interact with each other via the strong force. Baryons form a subclass of hadrons and are subdivided into nucleons and hyperons. Protons and neutrons are baryons. See Table at subatomic particle. |
iˌɒn