isotope

noun

iso·​tope ˈī-sə-ˌtōp 

1

: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties

2

: nuclide

isotopic

ˌī-sə-ˈtä-pik  -ˈtō- 

adjective

isotopically

ˌī-sə-ˈtä-pi-k(ə-)lē  -ˈtō- 

adverb

Examples of isotope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The ongoing Tc-99m shortage underscores the need for a more resilient and diversified supply chain for medical isotopes. —Omer Awan, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

An array of radioactive substances had been released during the disaster, including plutonium and uranium, but scientists were also on the lookout for harmful levels of radioactive cesium and iodine isotopes, which turned out to be the abundant and far-reaching contaminants of agricultural land. —Kate Graham-Shaw, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2024

In many fission reactions, researchers send a neutron toward a lighter isotope of uranium, uranium-235. —Dan Kotlyar, Discover Magazine, 5 Oct. 2024

There are various things—tree rings, isotope ratios, and more—that register temperatures in the past. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

is- + Greek topos place

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

isotope

noun

iso·​tope ˈī-sə-ˌtōp 

: any of the forms of an element that differ in the number of neutrons in an atom

isotopic

ˌī-sə-ˈtäp-ik 

-ˈtō-pik

adjective

isotopically

-ˈtäp-i-k(ə-)lē 

-ˈtō-pi-

adverb

Medical Definition

isotope

noun

iso·​tope ˈī-sə-ˌtōp 

1

: any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and position in the periodic table and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties

2

: nuclide

isotopic

ˌī-sə-ˈtäp-ik  -ˈtō-pik 

adjective

isotopically

-ˈtäp-i-k(ə-)lē  -ˈtō-pi- 

adverb

isotopy

ˈī-sə-ˌtō-pē  ī-ˈsät-ə-pē 

noun

plural isotopies