noun
upsilon
UP-sih-lon
Upsilon (noun) means a letter of the Greek alphabet. Example: “Upsilon looks a little like the letter Y in some fonts.”
noun
1
A letter of the Greek alphabet.
"Upsilon looks a little like the letter Y in some fonts."
"The student learned to write upsilon along with the rest of the Greek alphabet."
2
technical In particle physics, a type of subatomic particle also known as an upsilon meson.
"In particle physics, upsilon names a type of meson also called bottomonium."
"The upsilon is also known to physicists as bottomonium."
How to use upsilon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishUpsilon is a Greek letter, and in physics it is also the name of a type of particle.
When to use it
The letter sense is general vocabulary, while the particle sense belongs to specialist physics.
Memory tip
Remember upsilon by its Greek-alphabet position, and keep the physics meaning separate as it refers to a particle, not a letter.
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Common pairings
the letter upsilon
upsilon meson
upsilon particle
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_____ looks a little like the letter Y in some fonts.
Etymology
Upsilon comes from the Ancient Greek phrase for simple Y, used to name the Greek letter.
Rhymes for upsilon
See all rhymes for upsilon →Frequently asked questions
What is upsilon in the Greek alphabet?
Upsilon is a letter of the Greek alphabet, coming twentieth in the modern alphabet and twenty-second in the old and ancient forms.
What does upsilon mean in physics?
In particle physics, upsilon refers to a particle known as the upsilon meson, also called bottomonium.
How do you say upsilon?
It is commonly said as UP-sih-lon, though other pronunciations are also heard.
What is the meaning of upsilon?
"upsilon" (noun) means a letter of the Greek alphabet.
