electron
UK: ɪˈlektrɒn | US: ɪˈlektrɑːn
n. a stable subatomic particle with a negative electric charge, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids.
n. (historical) a term for amber, due to its electrostatic properties when rubbed.
electron = electr<amber, electricity> + on<particle suffix>
- electr: Derived from Greek ēlektron (ἤλεκτρον), meaning "amber." Amber was historically associated with static electricity when rubbed.
- on: A suffix used in physics to denote subatomic particles (e.g., proton, neutron).
Etymology Origin:
The word electron originates from the Greek ēlektron (amber), as ancient Greeks observed that rubbing amber generated static electricity. In the late 19th century, physicist G. Johnstone Stoney coined the term for the fundamental unit of electric charge, later refined to describe the subatomic particle by J.J. Thomson in 1891. The suffix -on aligns with other particle names, emphasizing its role in atomic structure.
An electron orbits the nucleus of an atom.
The flow of electrons through a wire creates an electric current.
J.J. Thomson discovered the electron in 1897.
In photosynthesis, electrons are transferred to produce energy.
The electron microscope reveals details at the atomic level.