positron
1 synonym for positron, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The antimatter counterpart of the electron: identical mass, opposite (positive) charge.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
antielectron
How to use positron
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
a positron and an electron
detect a positron
a positron track
It's a technical term confined mainly to physics.
Etymology
Formed from positive and the ending -tron, taken from electron, to name the positively charged counterpart of the electron. The American physicist Carl Anderson coined the term in 1932 to replace an earlier name, antielectron.
Full origin of positron →Frequently asked questions
What is a positron?
It's the antimatter equivalent of an electron, having the same mass but a positive charge instead of negative.
Who coined the term positron?
The American physicist Carl Anderson coined it in 1932.
Is positron another word for antielectron?
Yes, antielectron was an earlier name for the same particle, later replaced by positron.
