proton

Meaning

1. (particle) A positively charged subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom and determining the atomic number of an element, composed of two up quarks and a down quark.
2. (particle) A positively charged subatomic particle forming part of the nucleus of an atom and determining the atomic number of an element, composed of two up quarks and a down quark.
3. (obsolete) Synonym of primordium.

Synonyms

protonic

Translations

proton

Proton

protón

proton

protone

próton

protó

proton

πρωτόνιο

proton

بروتون

protão

protonis

proton

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɹəʊ.tɒn/

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek πρῶτον (prôton), neuter of πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”).
(physics): Coined by New Zealand-British scientist Ernest Rutherford in 1920, in analogy with electron (1891), and with an additional intention of honoring English chemist William Prout. Analyzable as proto- + -on
(anatomy): A translation of German Anlage (“fundamental thing”) based on Aristotle’s phrase ἡ πρώτη οὐσία τὸ πρῶτον (hē prṓtē ousía tò prôton).