nucleon

[ noo-klee-on, nyoo- ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a proton or neutron, especially when considered as a component of a nucleus.

nucleon

/ ˈnjuːklɪˌɒn /

noun

1. a proton or neutron, esp one present in an atomic nucleus

nucleon

/ no̅o̅′klē-ŏn′ /

1. A proton or a neutron, especially as part of an atomic nucleus.

Other Words From

• nucle·onic adjective
• inter·nucle·on adjective
• inter·nucle·onic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nucleon¹

First recorded in 1935–40; nucle(us) + -on ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of nucleon¹

C20: from nucle ( us ) + -on

Example Sentences

The team's research, published this month in the journal Physical Review Letters, has finally shed the first light on how these nucleon resonances work at their core.

From Salon

Much of the power to smash nucleons, therefore, comes from splitting nuclei.

From Scientific American

The strong nuclear interaction that binds nucleons together in an atomic nucleus is essentially the same between protons and neutrons.

From Nature

The resulting data were used to investigate the interactions that occur between nucleons separated by very small distances, and to show that current models of nucleon–nucleon interactions might be valid at these short distances.

From Nature

‘Doubly magic’ nuclei have fully occupied shells of protons and neutrons, the subatomic particles known generically as nucleons.

From Nature