noun
baryon
BAIR-ee-on
Baryon (noun) means a baryon is a heavy subatomic particle made of three quarks held together by gluons. Example: “The proton is the most familiar baryon.”
noun
1
technical A baryon is a heavy subatomic particle made of three quarks held together by gluons.
"The proton is the most familiar baryon."
"Neutron stars are made almost entirely of baryons."
"Because they are fermions, no two baryons can occupy exactly the same state."
How to use baryon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA heavy particle built from three quarks, like the protons and neutrons found in every atom.
When to use it
Baryon is a technical term confined to physics writing and teaching.
Memory tip
Link the word to its Greek root barys, meaning heavy, to remember that baryons are the heavier class of particle.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
boson →
meson
Common pairings
baryon number
baryon asymmetry
baryon density
heavy baryon
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Fill the gap
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The proton is the most familiar _____.
Etymology
Baryon was built from the Ancient Greek word barys, meaning heavy, with the English ending -on. The physicist Abraham Pais coined it in 1953.
Rhymes for baryon
See all rhymes for baryon →Frequently asked questions
What is a baryon in physics?
A baryon is a subatomic particle made of three quarks bound together by gluons. Protons and neutrons are the two most familiar examples.
Are protons and neutrons baryons?
Yes, both the proton and the neutron are baryons, since each is built from three quarks.
What is the difference between a baryon and a hadron?
A hadron is any particle built from quarks, while a baryon is specifically a hadron made of three quarks rather than two.
What is the meaning of baryon?
"baryon" (noun) means a baryon is a heavy subatomic particle made of three quarks held together by gluons.
