baryon
|bar-i-on|
🇺🇸
/ˈbær.i.ɑn/
🇬🇧
/ˈbær.i.ɒn/
heavy (three-quark) particle
Etymology
'baryon' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'βαρύς (barys)', where 'barys' meant 'heavy', combined with the particle-forming suffix '-on' used in physics.
'baryon' was coined in mid-20th-century particle physics (modeled on names like 'proton' and 'meson') and entered English scientific usage as 'baryon'.
Initially related to the Greek root meaning 'heavy', it evolved into a technical term for a specific class of subatomic particles (three-quark particles).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a class of composite subatomic particles made of three quarks and subject to the strong interaction; examples include the proton and neutron. Baryons carry baryon number +1.
A proton is a baryon composed of three quarks.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/16 16:56