QUANTUM (quanta)
Dictionary entry overview: What does quantum mean?
• QUANTUM (noun)
The noun QUANTUM has 2 senses:
1. a discrete amount of something that is analogous to the quantum in quantum theory
2. (physics) the smallest discrete quantity of some physical property that a system can possess (according to quantum theory)
Familiarity information: QUANTUM used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• QUANTUM (noun)
Meaning:
A discrete amount of something that is analogous to the quantum in quantum theory
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("quantum" is a kind of...):
quantity (something that has a magnitude and can be represented in mathematical expressions by a constant or a variable)
Meaning:
(physics) the smallest discrete quantity of some physical property that a system can possess (according to quantum theory)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("quantum" is a kind of...):
amount; measure; quantity (how much there is of something that you can quantify)
Domain category:
natural philosophy; physical science; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "quantum"):
quasiparticle (a quantum of energy (in a crystal lattice or other system) that has position and momentum and can in some respects be regarded as a particle)
