Aitken nucleus

noun

Ait·ken nucleus ˈāt-kən-

meteorology

: a microscopic aerosol particle in the atmosphere that encourages condensation to gather into a droplet

Using air samples collected from a 65-foot tower in a eucalyptus forest in Portugal, the researchers found an abundance of tiny aerosols, known as Aitken nuclei, that could only have been produced locally.—

Henry Fountain, New York Times, 3 Nov. 1998

Word History

Etymology

after John Aitken †1919 Scottish meteorologist and engineer

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Aitken nucleus was in 1906

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Aitken nucleus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Aitken%20nucleus. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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