*electron*

n. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'h`lektron. See Electric. ] 1. Amber; also, the alloy of gold and silver, called electrum. [ archaic ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physics & Chem.) one of the fundamental subatomic particles, having a negative charge and about one thousandth the mass of a hydrogen atom. The electron carries (or is) a natural unit of negative electricity, equal to 3.4 x 10-10 electrostatic units, and is classed by physicists as a lepton. Its mass is practically constant at the lesser speeds, but increases due to relativistic effects as the velocity approaches that of light. Electrons are all of one kind, so far as is known. Thus far, no structure has been detected within an electron, and it is probably one of the ultimate composite constituents of all matter. An atom or group of atoms from which an electron has been detached has a positive charge and is called a cation. Electrons are projected from the cathode of vacuum tubes (including television picture tubes) as cathode rays and from radioactive substances as the beta rays. Previously also referred to as corpuscle, an obsolete term. The motion of electrons through metallic conductors is observed as an electric current. A particle identical to the electron in mass and most other respects, but having a positive instead of a negative charge, is called a positron, or antielectron [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

a. (Chem. & Physics) 1. Having the property of being attracted by an electro-positive body, or a tendency to pass to the positive pole in electrolysis, by the law that opposite electricities attract each other. Contrasted with neutral and electropositive [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Negative; nonmetallic; acidic; -- opposed to positive, metallic, or basic. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physics) carrying a negative electrical charge. [ PJC ]

4. (Chem. and Physics) having a tendency to take up electrons and form negative ions; having a relatively positive electrode potential. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

adj. (Physics) having no net electric charge; not electrified; uncharged; neutral. Opposite of charged. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. (Physics & Chem.) 1. Of or pertaining to an electron or electrons; as, electronic energy. [ wns=2 ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. Using the methods or principles of electronics as part of the working mechanism; -- of devices; as, electronic circuit; electronic devices; electronic entertainment devices. [ PJC ]

3. Using computerized storage or transmission of information; as, electronic banking; electronic mail; electronic fund transfer. [ PJC ]

4. of or pertaining to electronics. [ wns=1 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a device depending on the principles of electronics and using the manipulation of electron flow for its operation. [ PJC ]

☞ Numerous electronic devices are in daily use, among them the television, radio, computer, robot, transmitter, receiver, VCR, CD player, etc. [ PJC ]

n. (Computers) 1. a message transmitted from one computer to another, accessible by means of a mail reading program on the receiving computer. The message may have one or many intended recipients, and may be directed by the sending program to one or to multiple receiving computers. The message is typically in the form of a computer file, and may be a simple ASCII text, or any other type of binary coded information
Syn. -- email. [ PJC ]

n. 1. the branch of physics that deals with the behavior of electrons. Electronics is primarily concerned with phenomena other than simple conduction, such as emission of electrons, storage of electrical charge, the effects of electrical fields on the conduction of electrons through a circuit, and amplification and manipulation of electric signals such as voltage or current by design of circuits. Electronics also encompasses the application of such fundamental principles to the construction of devices using the manipulation of electrons in their operation, known as electronic devices. [ PJC ]

2. the branch of engineering concerned with design of devices using the principles of electronics, for practical purposes. [ PJC ]

3. electronic devices generally, or the electronic circuits within an electronic device. The Russian harvesters are sturdily constructed, but their electronics are primitive. [ PJC ]

n. a unit of energy, being equal to the kinetic energy acquired by an electron when accelerated through a potential difference of one volt. It is equal to 1.602 x 10-19 Joules. It is abbreviated eV. The unit electron-volt is often used to express the rest mass and the energy of fundamental particles, especially when accelerated to high velocity in an accelerator. In accelerators, the units encountered are more commonly megaelectron-volts (MeV or million electron-volts) and giga-electron-volts (GeV or billion electron-volts). [ PJC ]

a. (Physiol.) Of or relating to parelectronomy; as, the parelectronomic part of a muscle. [ 1913 Webster ]