US /ˈpɑ.zɪ.tɹɑn/ UK /ˈpɒz.ɪ.tɹɒn/
noun Freq #71069

Meanings

  1. 1
    noun

    an elementary particle with positive charge

    Interaction of a positron and an electron results in annihilation.

  2. 2
    noun

    The antimatter equivalent of an electron, having the same mass but a positive charge.

    The notion of a positron weapon remains the stuff of science fiction.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 noun · an elementary particle with... antielectron
2 noun · the antimatter equivalent... antielectron

Etymology

From positive + -tron (electron). Coined by American physicist Carl Anderson in 1932 to replace the earlier term antielectron.

Topics

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