GAMMA RAY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does gamma ray mean? 

• GAMMA RAY (noun)
  The noun GAMMA RAY has 1 sense:

1. electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength

  Familiarity information: GAMMA RAY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GAMMA RAY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Electromagnetic radiation emitted during radioactive decay and having an extremely short wavelength

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Synonyms:

gamma radiation; gamma ray

Hypernyms ("gamma ray" is a kind of...):

electromagnetic radiation; electromagnetic wave; nonparticulate radiation (radiation consisting of waves of energy associated with electric and magnetic fields resulting from the acceleration of an electric charge)

Holonyms ("gamma ray" is a part of...):

electromagnetic spectrum (the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves)

 Context examples 

It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, and gamma rays.

(Electromagnetic radiation, NCI Dictionary)

An instrument used in medicine to produce images of internal organs after the injection of a radioactive drug into the body, where the drug releases gamma rays.

(Gamma Camera, NCI Thesaurus)

Measurement of radiation exposure from x-rays, gamma rays, or other types of radiation used in the treatment or detection of diseases, including cancer.

(Dosimetry, NCI Dictionary)

But, scientists rely on gamma rays, the most energetic form of light, to brightly flag what cosmic source is producing these neutrinos and cosmic rays.

(NASA’s Fermi Traces Source of Cosmic Neutrino to Monster Black Hole, NASA)

Its jets produce many gamma rays, the highest-energy form of light, and we happen to be viewing the galaxy face on, which means one of its jets is pointing in our direction.

(WISE, Fermi Missions Reveal a Surprising Blazar Connection, NASA)

A treatment using gamma rays, a type of high-energy radiation that can be tightly focused on small tumors or other lesions in the head or neck, so very little normal tissue receives radiation.

(Gamma Knife, NCI Dictionary)

Iridium-192 emits gamma rays and has a half-life of 74 days.

(Iridium Ir 192, NCI Thesaurus)

The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.

(Irradiation, NCI Dictionary)

Selectively accumulating in thyroid tissue, iodine I 123 emits gamma rays that can be detected with gamma scintigraphy, allowing localization of thyroid tissue.

(Iodine I-123, NCI Thesaurus)

This radioisotope also emits gamma rays.

(Iodine I 124, NCI Thesaurus)