lepton1
/ˈlɛptɒn
/noun (plural lepta /ˈlɛptə/)
A former monetary unit of Greece used only in calculations, worth one hundredth of a drachma.
Origin
From Greek lepton, neuter of leptos 'small'.
lepton2
/ˈlɛptɒn/noun Physics
A subatomic particle, such as an electron, muon, or neutrino, which does not take part in the strong interaction.Like quarks and leptons, the Higgs particle also derives its mass from coupling to the Higgs condensate....
- There are small subatomic particles called leptons.
- Finally, the EM force acts on electrically charged particles: charged leptons (like electrons), and charged force carriers.
Derivatives
leptonic
- No observation of leptonic decays of D-mesons has yet been reported, owing to the smaller branching fraction.
- This colour quantum number is additional to leptonic flavour which distinguishes neutrinos from charged leptons.
Origin
1940s: from Greek leptos 'small' + -on.