sub-atomn.
/ˈsʌbˌatəm/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌædəm/ Physics.
A constituent part of an atom; a subatomic particle.
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sub-atom1865
elementary particle1934
1865 Fortn. Rev. 1 July 437 The original objection applies in its full force to these sub-atoms, and so on ad infinitum.
1880 E. Cleminshaw tr. C. A. Wurtz Atomic Theory 51 A primordial matter, the sub-atoms of which were grouped in different numbers to form the chemical atoms of hydrogen and the various simple bodies.
1904 A. J. Balfour Refl. New Theory Matter 9 There are those..who think that the elementary atom of the chemist..is but a connected system of monads or sub-atoms.
1943 Times 10 Mar. 5/6 Of relativity, sub-atoms, quanta theories and astro-physics they hear much.
1994 Evening Standard (Nexis) 27 Apr. 5 Only by reaching an understanding of the very smallest things in nature, such as subatoms, can we fully explain the bigger things such as suns and planets.
2003 N. Rapport I am Dynamite iii. 113 From this vague mass of swirling atoms and sub-atoms..we construe reassuringly solid ‘objects’ for our experience.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1865