tau

noun

ˈtau̇ 

ˈtȯ

1

: the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table

2

: a short-lived elementary particle of the lepton family that exists in positive and negative charge states and has a mass about 3500 times greater than an electron

called also tau particle

3

: a protein that binds to and regulates the assembly and stability of neuronal microtubules and that is found in an abnormal form as the major component of neurofibrillary tangles

Examples of tau in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The combination of the amyloid and tau tests, called the amyloid probability score, was the most predictive. —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 28 July 2024

Read More: Changing Your Diet and Lifestyle May Slow Down Alzheimer's First, Lilly used a relatively new way to identify patients whose disease is most likely to progress, relying on a PET (positron emission tomography) brain scan for a protein called tau. —Alice Park, TIME, 11 June 2024

Nor did researchers check for the protein tau, which cling together and form tangles in brain cells. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 30 July 2024

By lowering amyloids, the drugs can slow the spread of tau. —Maya Goldman, Axios, 29 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English taw, from Latin tau, from Greek, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew tāw taw

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing tau

• tau cross

Kids Definition

tau

noun

ˈtau̇ 

ˈtȯ

: the 19th letter of the Greek alphabet

—Τ or τ

Medical Definition

tau

noun

ˈtau̇  ˈtȯ 

: a protein that binds to and regulates the assembly and stability of neuronal microtubules and that is found in an abnormal form as the major component of neurofibrillary tangles

called also tau protein