gamma-ray
noun1
attributive form of gamma ray
gamma ray
nounalso spelled gamma-ray1
Very high frequency (and therefore very high energy) electromagnetic radiation emitted as a consequence of radioactivity.
- Doc Bruce Banner, belted by gamma rays, Turns into the Hulk – Ain’t he unglamour-rays [=unglamorous]!1966, “The Incredible Hulk”, Jacques Urbont (lyrics) (theme song of The Marvel Super Heroes):
- There’s a tongue-in-cheek book titled “Learn Greek in 25 years,” but you’ll be surprised at how straightforward it is to learn the alphabet: those alpha males, beta releases and gamma rays have seen to that.2021 April 25, John Malathronas, “Which languages are easiest – and most difficult – for native English speakers to learn?”, in CNN, archived from the original on 22 Mar 2022:
- Derived terms
- gamma knife, gamma-ray astronomy, gamma-ray burst, graser
- Related terms
- gamma radiation, T-ray, X-ray, alpha ray, beta ray