para-hydrogen

noun

¦parə+

: molecular hydrogen in which the two hydrogen nuclei are spinning in opposite directions so that their contribution to the total angular momentum is zero compare ortho-hydrogen

Word History

Etymology

para- entry 1 + hydrogen

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!