Higgs boson

[ higz ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a hypothetical type of heavy, electrically neutral particle with zero spin.

Higgs boson

/ hɪɡz /

noun

1. physics an elementary particle with zero spin and mass greater than zero, predicted to exist by electroweak theory and other gauge theories Also calledinformalGod particle

Higgs boson

/ hĭgz /

1. A hypothetical, massive subatomic particle with zero electric charge. The Higgs boson is postulated to interact with other particles in such a way as to impart mass to them. It is predicted by the standard model , but has yet to be isolated experimentally. The Higgs boson is named after its discoverer, British theoretical physicist Peter Ware Higgs (born 1929).

Word History and Origins

Origin of Higgs boson¹

Named after Peter W. Higgs (born 1929), English physicist, who hypothesized its existence

Word History and Origins

Origin of Higgs boson¹

C20: named after Peter Higgs (born 1929), British theoretical physicist

Example Sentences

Dr Fowler's discovery of the Kaon particle helped to predict particles such as the Higgs boson, discovered at Cern in Geneva, Switzerland.

From BBC

The Higgs boson, also known as “the God particle,” would become the keystone of a suite of theories known as the Standard Model, which encapsulated all human knowledge so far about elementary particles and the forces by which they shaped nature and the universe.

From Seattle Times

Peter Higgs, the British physicist who proposed the famed particle called the Higgs boson, died last week at age 94.

From Science Magazine

At the 2012 seminar announcing the discovery of the Higgs boson, he declined questions from the press, saying, “Now is not the time or the place.”

From Science Magazine

Prof Peter Higgs was best known for that mysterious-sounding thing nicknamed the 'God particle' - or just simply, and probably better-put, the Higgs boson.

From BBC