tau

[ tou, taw tahv, tawv ]

noun

1. the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet (T, τ ).
2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.
3. tav.
4. Also tau·on []. Physics. tau lepton.
5. Also called tau protein. Biochemistry. a protein that is an important component of nerve cells, helping to maintain their function and structure: in the brain, distortions in the protein’s molecular shape is associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

tau

/ taʊ; tɔː /

noun

1. the 19th letter in the Greek alphabet (Τ, τ), a consonant, transliterated as t

Word History and Origins

Origin of tau¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Latin < Greek taû < Semitic; tav

Word History and Origins

Origin of tau¹

C13: via Latin from Greek, of Semitic origin; see tav

Example Sentences

In Alzheimer’s disease, tau starts to misbehave, forming clumps inside brain cells, interfering with their ability to communicate with one another.

From The Daily Beast

Reducing the accumulation of these tau clumps might be one way to fight Alzheimer’s disease, but first, scientists have to figure out how the accumulation is actually happening.

From The Daily Beast

Similarly, there are six “leptons” which include the electron, a heavier cousin called the muon, and the still heavier tau, each of which has an associated neutrino.

From Singularity Hub 

There were lesions, an accumulation of tau protein around blood vessels and in crevices, and a brain that was 20 percent smaller than it should have been, McKee said in an interview.

From Washington Post

The tau protein is also known for forming the protein aggregates that are the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.

From Quanta Magazine

One of these things is tau, another protein used in cells to hold open channels so they can receive nutrients.

From The Daily Beast

But thanks to funnyman Harold Ramis and Delta Tau Chi he launched an era of laughter.

From The Daily Beast

Though let the record show, I might never had gotten this job if it wasn't for Byron Tau.

From The Daily Beast

Gray broke the color barrier when he pledged Tau Epsilon Phi.

From The Daily Beast

She is the winner of six Front Page awards for her journalism and the Frank Luther Mott Kappa Tau Alpha Award for research.

From The Daily Beast

The gallows from which he is suspended forms a Tau cross, while the figure—from the position of the legs—forms a fylfot cross.

From Project Gutenberg

The inner circle depicts a triple Tau, with a hexagram where the bases join, and beneath is the Ace of Cups.

From Project Gutenberg

Delta and Tau, from the compression of the tongue, imitate stoppage of motion, or stationary condition.

From Project Gutenberg

Trimorphodon latifascia differs from tau in having fewer dark cross-bands on the body and in lacking an interocular bar.

From Project Gutenberg

The relationships of this species are with Trimorphodon tau on the Mexican Plateau.

From Project Gutenberg