hadron

[ had-ron ]

nounPhysics.
  1. any elementary particle that is subject to the strong interaction. Hadrons are subdivided into baryons and mesons.

Origin of hadron

1
1962; <Greek hadr(ós) thick, bulky + -on1

Other words from hadron

  • ha·dron·ic [ha-dron-ik], /hæˈdrɒn ɪk/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for hadron

hadron

/ (ˈhædrɒn) /


noun
  1. any elementary particle capable of taking part in a strong nuclear interaction and therefore excluding leptons and photons

Origin of hadron

1
C20: from Greek hadros heavy, from hadēn enough + -on

Derived forms of hadron

  • hadronic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for hadron

hadron

[ hădrŏn′ ]


  1. Any of a class of subatomic particles composed of a combination of two or more quarks or antiquarks. Quarks (and antiquarks) of different colors are held together in hadrons by the strong nuclear force. Hadrons include both baryons (composed of three quarks or three antiquarks) and mesons (composed of a quark and an antiquark). The combination of quark colors in a hadron must be neutral, for example, red and antired (as in a pion) or red, blue, and green (as in a proton). Compare baryon lepton.

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