beta particle

beta particle

n.

An electron or positron, especially one emitted at high energy in the decay of certain radioactive nuclei.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

beta particle

n

(General Physics) a high-speed electron or positron emitted by a nucleus during radioactive decay or nuclear fission

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

be′ta par`ticle

n.

an electron or positron emitted from an atomic nucleus in beta decay.

[1900–05]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

beta particle

A high-speed electron emitted by an atomic nucleus undergoing radioactive decay. A beta particle is created when a neutron becomes a proton. Beta particles have greater speed and penetrating power than alpha particles. ♦ The process by which a neutron becomes a proton and emits an electron is called beta decay. Beta decay results in the atomic number of an element being increased by one and its mass number staying the same. See more at radiation, radioactive decay.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

beta particle

An electron emitted by an isotope undergoing radioactive decay.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

beta particle - a high-speed electron or positron emitted in the decay of a radioactive isotope subatomic particle, particle - a body having finite mass and internal structure but negligible dimensions

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.