ionizing radiation consisting of a stream of alpha particles
alpha ray in American English
a stream of alpha particles, less penetrating than a beta ray
alpha ray in American English
noun
Physics
a stream of alpha particles
Also called: alpha radiation
Word origin
[1900–05]This word is first recorded in the period 1900–05. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Young Turk, burnout, hookup, hormone, throwaway