triton

¹

[ trahy-ton ]

noun

, Physics.

1. a positively-charged particle consisting of a proton and two neutrons, equivalent to the nucleus of an atom of tritium.

Triton

²

[ trahyt-n ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. a son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, represented as having the head and trunk of a man and the tail of a fish, and as using a conch-shell trumpet.
2. Astronomy. a moon of Neptune.
3. (lowercase) any of various marine gastropods of the family Cymatiidae, having a large, spiral, often beautifully colored shell.
4. (lowercase) the shell of a triton.

Triton

¹

/ ˈtraɪtən /

noun

1. the largest satellite of the planet Neptune. Diameter: 2700 km

triton

²

/ ˈtraɪtən /

noun

1. any of various chiefly tropical marine gastropod molluscs of the genera Charonia , Cymatium , etc, having large beautifully-coloured spiral shells

triton

³

/ ˈtraɪtɒn /

noun

1. physics a nucleus of an atom of tritium, containing two neutrons and one proton

Triton

⁴

/ ˈtraɪtən /

noun

1. a sea god, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, depicted as having the upper parts of a man with a fish's tail and holding a trumpet made from a conch shell
2. one of a class of minor sea deities

Other Words From

• Tri·ton·ic [trahy-, ton, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of triton¹

1930–35; < Greek tríton, neuter of trítos third, equivalent to trí- tri- + -ton neuter adj. suffix; -on ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of triton¹

C16: via Latin from Greek tritōn

Origin of triton²

C20: from trit ( ium ) + -on

Example Sentences

The panels feature Roman gods, and sculptures of cherubs and tritons ride on the roof and over the wheels.

From BBC

Overfishing and the removal of the starfish’s natural predators, like the giant triton snail, have also contributed to outbreaks.

From Washington Post

Junior set aside millions of dollars for the gardens, reflecting pools and art — works like Rene Paul Chambellan’s bronze fountainhead sculptures of mermaids and tritons in the Channel Gardens.

From New York Times

Tritium is a rare radioactive isotope of hydrogen sometimes called triton; titanium is a strong metal.

From The Guardian

H-bombs fuse together tiny hydrogen nuclei known as deuterons and tritons to create helium nuclei, along with the most powerful explosions in the human arsenal.

From Scientific American