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gamma ray
noun
: a photon emitted spontaneously by a radioactive substance
also
: a photon of higher energy than that of an X-ray
Examples of gamma ray in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists knew about two kinds of gamma ray emission created by these storms: terrestrial gamma ray flashes (TGFs), which are bright and last for fractions of a millisecond; and gamma ray glows, which are dimmer but persist for seconds to minutes.
—Hannah Richter, science.org, 2 Oct. 2024
But other sources, like quasars, supernovae and gamma ray bursts, can fire off particles at extremely high energies.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 29 Nov. 2024
Sensitive instruments onboard the plane detected hundreds of events producing gamma rays in storms over the Caribbean and Central America.
—Rudy Molinek, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Oct. 2024
These tardigrades were exposed to heavy doses of gamma rays—high-energy photons that are one form of ionizing radiation—and researchers then studied how their systems responded.
—Tom Hawking, Popular Science, 24 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1903, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Gamma ray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamma%20ray. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
gamma ray
noun
: a ray that is like an X-ray but of higher energy and that is given off especially by a radioactive substance
Medical Definition
gamma ray
noun
: a photon emitted spontaneously by a radioactive substance
also
: a high-energy photon
—usually used in plural
More from Merriam-Webster on gamma ray
Nglish: Translation of gamma ray for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gamma ray
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