subatomic particle
subatomic particle — noun
1. one of the very tiny pieces of material that make up an atom or are even smaller
one of the very tiny pieces of material that make up an atom or are even smaller than a whole atom, for example a proton, a neutron, or an electron.
Quinn drew a picture showing how a subatomic particle moves around an atom.
countable: a subatomic particle
Scientists use huge machines to crash subatomic particles together at very high speed.
plural: subatomic particles
The teacher explained that an electron is one common type of subatomic particle.
Some subatomic particles carry a tiny electric charge, while others have no charge at all.
Feng spent years studying how subatomic particles behave deep inside the heart of an atom.
- elementary particle
a subatomic particle that cannot be broken into anything smaller, such as an electron or quark
- particle
the short, everyday form physicists use once the context is clear
用法筆記
Almost always used as a count noun, often in the plural when describing physics experiments. Common partner words are 'proton', 'neutron', 'electron', and 'charge'.