lambda

[ lam-duh ]

noun

1. the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ).
2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.

lambda

/ ˈlæmdə /

noun

1. the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ), a consonant transliterated as l

Word History and Origins

Origin of lambda¹

< Greek lá ( m ) bda < Semitic; lamed

Word History and Origins

Origin of lambda¹

C14: from Greek, from Semitic; related to lamed

Example Sentences

Theorists could account for this force by adding a cosmological constant, lambda, to Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity.

From Science Magazine

In this study, they found that the lambda phage shares this mechanism.

From Science Daily

The Greek letter lambda in the cosmic recipe represents one possible explanation, the cosmological constant, which Einstein himself had proposed in 1917.

From Science Magazine

Not all physicists are convinced that this diquark hypothesis reflects how lambdas really form, however.

From Scientific American

With hepatitis treatments in mind, they had previously acquired a drug based on lambda interferons, a lesser-known type of interferon whose receptors are largely restricted to specific areas, like the respiratory tract.

From New York Times