gamma
1 of 2noun
gam·ma ˈga-mə 
plural gammas
1
: the 3rd letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table
2
: something or someone designated with the name gamma or the Greek letter γ especially denoting the third in position, order, or class
gamma hydroxybutyrate
3
: the degree of contrast of a developed photographic image or of a video image
4
: a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one nanotesla
5
: gamma ray
gamma counter
6
: microgram
gamma
2 of 2adjective
1
: of, relating to, or being one of three or more closely related chemical substances
2
: third in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom —symbol γ
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 So far, there have been five main variants, alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 18 May 2022 In the last month, none of the other worrying variants — including beta, gamma, lambda or mu — have been reported, although WHO said there were surveillance challenges in many countries. NBC News, 2 Mar. 2022 This is what causes those soft gamma repeaters discovered by the Department of Defense. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 17 June 2022 Others were found shortly thereafter in South Africa (beta), Brazil (gamma), India (delta) and Peru (lambda). Lara Marks, Quartz, 1 Sep. 2021 Finally, gamma includes sounds from 30 to 50 Hertz apart. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 17 May 2022 Last August, Barini pleaded guilty to distributing drugs that killed her clients, including fentanyl and gamma-butyrolactone, a drug known for causing irrational behavior, severe illness, coma and death. Washington Post, 2 May 2022 Please note that the product contains gamma-cyhalothrin, a potent broad-spectrum pyrethroid pesticide that will also kill other insects such as ants, fleas and roaches. Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 29 Apr. 2022 David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 11 Oct. 2019 In addition to remaining unperturbed by the outside world, this specific subset of cells tended to spike regularly at gamma-range intervals, like a metronome. Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 18 July 2019 This revealed phytanic acid (frequently found in the fat and milk of ruminants), azelaic acid (common in wholegrain cereals) and gamma-terpinene (typically found in herbs like coriander). The Economist, 12 July 2018 See More
Noun
That study looked at neutralizing antibody responses to the beta and gamma variants, two earlier versions of the virus that spread in the U.S. but never became dominant. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 So far, there have been five main variants, alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron. Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY, 18 May 2022 In the last month, none of the other worrying variants — including beta, gamma, lambda or mu — have been reported, although WHO said there were surveillance challenges in many countries. NBC News, 2 Mar. 2022 This is what causes those soft gamma repeaters discovered by the Department of Defense. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 17 June 2022 Others were found shortly thereafter in South Africa (beta), Brazil (gamma), India (delta) and Peru (lambda). Lara Marks, Quartz, 1 Sep. 2021 Finally, gamma includes sounds from 30 to 50 Hertz apart. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 17 May 2022 Last August, Barini pleaded guilty to distributing drugs that killed her clients, including fentanyl and gamma-butyrolactone, a drug known for causing irrational behavior, severe illness, coma and death. Washington Post, 2 May 2022 Please note that the product contains gamma-cyhalothrin, a potent broad-spectrum pyrethroid pesticide that will also kill other insects such as ants, fleas and roaches. Jamie Kim, Good Housekeeping, 29 Apr. 2022 Adjective
And the worldwide shortage of gamma ferric oxide has brought tape production to a crawl. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 11 Oct. 2019 In addition to remaining unperturbed by the outside world, this specific subset of cells tended to spike regularly at gamma-range intervals, like a metronome. Diana Kwon, Scientific American, 18 July 2019 This revealed phytanic acid (frequently found in the fat and milk of ruminants), azelaic acid (common in wholegrain cereals) and gamma-terpinene (typically found in herbs like coriander). The Economist, 12 July 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, borrowed from Latin, borrowed from Greek gȧmma, borrowed from Phoenician *gaml-, perhaps with the original sense "throwing stick"
Adjective
attributive use of gamma entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing gamma
Medical Definition
gamma 1 of 2
noun
gam·ma ˈgam-ə
1
: the third letter of the Greek alphabet —symbol Γ or γ
2
: a unit of magnetic flux density equal to one nanotesla
3
: gamma ray —usually used as the attributive form of gamma ray
gamma counter
4
: microgram sense 1
gamma
2 of 2adjective
variants or γ-
1
: of or relating to one of three or more closely related chemical substances
the gamma chain of hemoglobin
γ-yohimbine
—used somewhat arbitrarily to specify ordinal relationship or a particular physical form and especially one that is allotropic, isomeric, or stereoisomeric (as in gamma benzene hexachloride) 2
: third in position in the structure of an organic molecule from a particular group or atom
also : occurring at or having a structure characterized by such a position
γ-hydroxy acids
3
of streptococci : producing no hemolysis on blood agar plates