soliton

noun

sol·​i·​ton ˈsä-lə-ˌtän How to pronounce soliton (audio)
: a solitary wave (as in a gaseous plasma) that propagates with little loss of energy and retains its shape and speed after colliding with another such wave

Examples of soliton in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The researchers’ simulations successfully recreated what a topological soliton would look like if placed in front of a camera lens. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023 The resulting topological soliton is a purely hypothetical entity, but one that adheres to both string theory and Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 2 May 2023 So, while the frequency of WIMPs should gently decline with distance from the core of a galaxy, axions should form a standing wave (technically, a soliton) that boosts their frequency near the galactic core. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 21 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

solitary + -on entry 2

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of soliton was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near soliton

Cite this Entry

“Soliton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soliton. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on soliton

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!