antiparticle
/ˈæntiˌpɑ(ɹ)tɪkəl/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: 1.60 in modern English
16
Scrabble Score
12
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A subatomic particle corresponding to another particle with the same mass, spin and mean lifetime but with charge, parity, strangeness and other quantum numbers flipped in sign; a particle that has a reversed world line to another.
Example Sentences
- "There could be whole antiworlds and antipeople made out of antiparticles. However, if you meet your antiself, don't shake hands!"
- "Particles of matter and antimatter are identical, except for an opposite electrical charge. An electron has a negative charge whereas its antiparticle, the positron, has a positive charge, and both have an identical mass."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts Proto-Indo-European *-i Proto-Indo-European *h₂énti Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ντῐ́ (ăntĭ́) Ancient Greek ἀντι- (anti-)der. English anti- Proto-Indo-European *perh₃- Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *pérh₃tis? Proto-Italic *partis Latin pars Proto-Indo-European *-lós Proto-Indo-European *-elós Proto-Italic *-elos Proto-Italic *-kelos Latin -cula Latin particula Middle French particule English particle English antiparticle From anti- + particle.