instanton

I1N1S1T1A1N1T1O1N1

noun

A solution to the imaginary time nonlinear field equation of Yang-Mills theory; carries information about quantum tunnelling.

OriginEnglish electronbf. ← Ancient Greek ἰόν (ión) ← Proto-Hellenic *éimi →
UncommonScrabble 9
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Meanings

nouninstanton (plural instantons)

plural instantons

  1. mathematicsA solution to the imaginary time nonlinear field equation of Yang-Mills theory; carries information about quantum tunnelling.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*énu
  2. Latinin-
  3. Proto-Indo-European*steh₂-
  4. Proto-Indo-European*sth₂éh₁yeti
  5. Proto-Italic*staējō
  6. Proto-Italic*staēō
  7. Latinstō
  8. Latinīnstō
  9. Latinīnstāns
  10. Old Frenchinstant
  11. Middle Englishinstant
  12. Englishinstant
  13. Ancient Greekἤλεκτρον (ḗlektron)
  14. Latinēlectrum
  15. New Latinēlectricus
  16. Englishelectric
  17. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ey-
  18. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éyti
  19. Proto-Hellenic*éimi
  20. Ancient Greekἰόν (ión)
  21. Englishion
  22. Englishelectronbf.
  23. Englishinstanton

From instant + -on.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Basque instantoi
  • instantoiA solution to the Yang-Mills theory equation
Chinese Mandarin 瞬子
  • 瞬子 (shùnzǐ)A solution to the Yang-Mills theory equation
Dutch instanton
  • instantonA solution to the Yang-Mills theory equation
Italian istantone
  • istantoneA solution to the Yang-Mills theory equation
Spanish instantón
  • instantónA solution to the Yang-Mills theory equation

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

nonstatin
Cite this entry
APA

instanton. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/instanton

MLA

“instanton.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/instanton. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “instanton,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/instanton.

Source: instanton on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.