corpuscle

corpuscle
Electron E*lec"tron, n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'h`lektron. See {Electric}.] 1. Amber; also, the alloy of gold and silver, called {electrum}. [archaic] [1913 Webster]

2. (Physics & Chem.) one of the fundamental subatomic particles, having a negative charge and about one thousandth the mass of a hydrogen atom. The electron carries (or is) a natural unit of negative electricity, equal to 3.4 x 10^{-10} electrostatic units, and is classed by physicists as a {lepton}. Its mass is practically constant at the lesser speeds, but increases due to relativistic effects as the velocity approaches that of light. Electrons are all of one kind, so far as is known. Thus far, no structure has been detected within an electron, and it is probably one of the ultimate composite constituents of all matter. An atom or group of atoms from which an electron has been detached has a positive charge and is called a {cation}. Electrons are projected from the cathode of vacuum tubes (including television picture tubes) as {cathode rays} and from radioactive substances as the {beta rays}. Previously also referred to as {corpuscle}, an obsolete term. The motion of electrons through metallic conductors is observed as an electric current. A particle identical to the electron in mass and most other respects, but having a positive instead of a negative charge, is called a {positron}, or {antielectron} [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Corpuscle — may refer to: a small free floating biological cell, especially a blood cell, but not a fat cell a nerve ending such as Meissner s corpuscle or a Pacinian corpuscle any member of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge or Corpus Christi College, Oxford …   Wikipedia

  • Corpuscle — Cor pus*cle ( p[u^]s*s l), n. [L. corpusculum, dim. of corpus.] 1. A minute particle; an atom; a molecule. [1913 Webster] 2. (Anat.) A protoplasmic animal cell; esp., such as float free, like blood, lymph, and pus corpuscles; or such as are… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • corpuscle — index scintilla Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • corpuscle — 1650s, any small particle, from L. corpusculum a puny body; an atom, particle, dim. of corpus body (see CORPOREAL (Cf. corporeal)). First applied to blood cells 1845. Related: Corpuscular …   Etymology dictionary

  • corpuscle — *particle, atom, molecule …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • corpuscle — ► NOUN ▪ a minute body or cell in an organism, especially a red or white blood cell. DERIVATIVES corpuscular adjective. ORIGIN Latin corpusculum small body …   English terms dictionary

  • corpuscle — [kôr pus′kyo͞ol΄kôr′pus΄əl, kôr′pə səl] n. [L corpusculum, dim. of corpus: see CORPUS] 1. a very small particle 2. Anat. a protoplasmic particle or cell with a special function; esp., any of the erythrocytes ( red corpuscles) or leukocytes (… …   English World dictionary

  • corpuscle — n. a red; white corpuscle * * * [ kɔːpəs(ə)l] white corpuscle white corpuscle a red …   Combinatory dictionary

  • corpuscle — UK [ˈkɔː(r)pʌs(ə)l] / US [ˈkɔrˌpʌs(ə)l] noun [countable] Word forms corpuscle : singular corpuscle plural corpuscles medical one of the white or red cells in your blood …   English dictionary

  • corpuscle — dalelė statusas T sritis Standartizacija ir metrologija apibrėžtis Smulkiausia medžiagos sandaros dalis. atitikmenys: angl. corpuscle; particle vok. Korpuskel, f; Partikel, f; Teilchen, n rus. частица, f pranc. corpuscule, f; particule, f …   Penkiakalbis aiškinamasis metrologijos terminų žodynas

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