rhizoverbBeta
DictionarytauElementary particle
noun

tau

A short-lived elementary particle related to the electron.

A tau is heavier than an electron.

Etymology
tawHebrewsign, mark; letter name

The particle-name uses the Greek letter tau. It was chosen in connection with its status as the third charged lepton, alongside the electron and muon.

More examples

  • The experiment studies the products of a tau's decay.
  • Physicists classify the tau as a lepton.
  • The detector records evidence of short-lived taus.

Forms

tau · taus