electron

IPA/ɪˈlektrɒn/
KK[ˌɪlˈɛktrɑn]IPA/ɪˈlektrɑːn/

electron — noun

  • electronsingular
  • electronsplural

1. a very tiny particle that is found inside every atom and is negatively charged.

1.nounB1
Definition

a very tiny particle that is found inside every atom and is negatively charged. It moves around the centre of the atom.

Example

Hyun's science teacher showed how electrons circle the centre of every atom.

electrons circle the centre of an atom

When Tuan switched on the lamp, electrons began flowing through the copper wire.

electrons + flow / flowing through [conductor]

Common collocations
  • electron microscope
  • electron beam
  • electron shell
  • free electron
  • electron pair
  • electron cloud
Synonyms
  • particle

    much broader term; electron is one specific type of subatomic particle

  • lepton

    the scientific category of particles that includes electrons (advanced physics context only)

Antonyms
  • proton

    a particle in the atom's centre with a positive electric charge

  • positron

    the antimatter counterpart of an electron, with the same mass but a positive charge

Grammar Patterns

electron + verb (orbit, flow, carry)

the + electron + noun (microscope, beam, shell)

Usage Note

Countable noun. Often appears in compound nouns such as electron microscope, electron beam, and electron shell. Learners encounter the word in school science lessons and popular science articles.

Common Mistakes

An electron is a negative charge particle.
An electron is a particle with a negative charge.
'Charge' is a property of the particle, not a modifier of 'particle'.
Electron has a negative charge.
An electron has a negative charge.' or 'Electrons have a negative charge.
As a countable noun, 'electron' needs a determiner or must be pluralised.