électron

electron

noun eh-lek-TROHN Rare

Origin: from Greek 'elektron' (amber), source of static electricity

Usage Note

Électron is the standard physics term for the negatively charged subatomic particle. The phrase électron libre ('free electron') is also used figuratively to describe a maverick or independent-minded person within a group. The related adjective électronique gives us l'électronique (electronics) as a field.

Examples

"L'électron gravite autour du noyau."

Natural Translation

The electron orbits the nucleus.

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