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# neutron

noun (a neutron, neutrons)

«neutron» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A neutron is one of the tiny particles inside the centre (nucleus) of an atom. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#m1)
2. A neutron has no electric charge — it is neutral, neither positive nor negative. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons, the atom is made of protons (positive), neutrons (no charge) and electrons (negative); protons and neutrons sit in the nucleus, electrons move around it. Neutrons are important in nuclear power stations, where they split atoms. A neutron star is what is left after some huge stars explode: very small and very heavy. Phrases: «protons and neutrons», «neutron star», «number of neutrons».

### Examples

- An atom has protons, neutrons and electrons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#x1)
- A neutron has no charge. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#x2)
- Protons and neutrons are packed together in the nucleus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#x3)
- A neutron star is smaller than a city but heavier than the Sun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#x4)
- Most hydrogen atoms have no neutrons at all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#x5)
- Neutrons help split atoms in a nuclear power station. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/#x6)

### Note

Easy way to remember: Neutron = Neutral. A proton and a neutron weigh about the same; an electron is much lighter. Maths: number of neutrons = mass number − number of protons. Do not confuse with «neuron», a nerve cell in the brain.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «neutron» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/neutron/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«neutron» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/neutron.html) on Mova free.