noun
neutron
NOO-tron
noun
1
A subatomic particle with no electric charge found in the nucleus of an atom.
"Splitting an atom releases a burst of neutrons."
"A neutron and a proton together make up most of an atom's mass."
How to Use Neutron
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA chargeless particle found in the nucleus of atoms, alongside protons.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
neutron star
free neutron
Word Forms
neutrons plural
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Splitting an atom releases a burst of _____.
Etymology
From neutral plus the particle-naming suffix -on. Coined in 1899, though the modern meaning was firmly established by Ernest Rutherford in 1920.