weak interaction

American  

noun

Physics.

1. the interaction between elementary particles and the intermediate vector bosons that carry the weak force from one particle to another.

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weak interaction British  

noun

1. Also called: weak nuclear interaction.   weak nuclear force.  physics an interaction between elementary particles that is responsible for certain decay processes, operates at distances less than about 10 ^–15 metres, and is 10 ¹² times weaker than the strong interaction. The weak interaction and electromagnetic interactions are now described by the unifying electroweak theory See interaction electroweak interaction

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weak interaction Scientific  

1. See weak force

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Etymology

Origin of weak interaction

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

They placed a polymer donor next to a non fullerene acceptor with almost no energy difference and only weak interaction -- conditions that should have significantly slowed charge transfer.

From Science Daily • Mar. 6, 2026

And the weak interaction can't occur without help from a W boson.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2022

The and B0 mesons are unstable particles that decay via the weak interaction.

From Nature • May 12, 2015

When this happens, a weak interaction occurs between the δ+ charge of the hydrogen atom of one molecule and the δ– charge of the other molecule.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

This is slower than the weak interaction by a factor of 1058.

From Scientific American • Mar. 4, 2011