Definition of ELECTRON

electron

Meanings

Plural: electrons

Noun

  • an elementary particle with negative charge
  • The subatomic particle having a negative charge and orbiting the nucleus; the flow of electrons in a conductor constitutes electricity.
  • Alloys of magnesium and other metals, like aluminum or zinc, that were manufactured by the German company Chemische Fabrik Griesheim-Elektron⁽ᵈᵉ⁾.

Origin / Etymology

Blend of electric + ion, coined by Anglo-Irish scientist George Stoney in 1891, changed by him multiple times from an earlier electrolion and original electrine (used as early as 1874) as the name for the electric charge associated with a univalent ion. Compare electro-, -on.
The particle ("corpuscule") was discovered in 1896. The name electrion was proposed for the particle in 1906 but curtailed because Hendrik Lorentz preferred electron.

Synonyms

;, e, negatron

Scrabble Score: 10

electron is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
electron is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
electron is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

electron is a valid Words With Friends word