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protons

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pro⋅ton

[proh-ton]
–noun Physics, Chemistry.
a positively charged elementary particle that is a fundamental constituent of all atomic nuclei. It is the lightest and most stable baryon, having a charge equal in magnitude to that of the electron, a spin of 1/2 , and a mass of 1.673 × 10−2 7 kg. Symbol: P

Origin:
1915–20; n. use of Gk prôton, neut. of prôtos first


pro⋅ton⋅ic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pro·ton   (prō'tŏn')   
n.   Abbr. p
A stable, positively charged subatomic particle in the baryon family having a mass 1,836 times that of the electron. See Table at subatomic particle.

[From Greek prōton, neuter of prōtos, first; see per1 in Indo-European roots.]
pro·ton'ic adj.
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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Cultural Dictionary

proton [(proh-ton)]

An elementary particle with a positive charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.

Note: A proton is over a thousand times heavier than an electron.
Note: Protons and neutrons make up most of an atom's mass.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

proton 
1920, coined by Eng. physicist Ernest Rutherford (1871-1937) from Gk. proton, neut. of protos "first," supposedly because hydrogen was hypothesized as a constituent of all the elements. The word was used earlier in embryology (1893) at a transl. of Ger. anlage ("fundamental thing") based on Aristotle's phrase he prote ousia to proton.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: pro·ton
Pronunciation: 'prO-"tän
Function: noun
: an elementary particle that is identical with the nucleus of the hydrogen atom,that along with neutrons is a constituent of all other atomic nuclei, that carries a positive charge numerically equal to the charge of an electron, and that has a mass of1.673×1024 gram —pro·ton·ic /prO-'tän-ik/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

proton pro·ton (prō'tŏn')
n.
A stable, positively charged subatomic particle in the baryon family having a mass 1,836 times that of the electron.

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