X-ray
physics.
often, x-rays. a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to light but of shorter wavelength and capable of penetrating solids and of ionizing gases.
such radiation having wavelengths in the range of approximately 0.1–10 nm.
a radiograph made by x-rays.
(initial capital letter) a word in communications to represent the letter x.
to examine, photograph, or treat with x-rays.
of or relating to x-rays.
contemporary examples
chen guangcheng pulls off escape, may be able to live free in china dan levin may 1, 2012
elizabeth wurtzel: my tea party mom loves al jazeera america elizabeth wurtzel september 3, 2013
the myth of the central park five edward conlon october 18, 2014
in paris, a historical look at lingerie at musée des arts décoratifs sarah moroz july 4, 2013
johnny knoxville: my 6 favorite ‘jack-ss’ pranks, from ‘terror taxi’ to ‘bad grandpa’ johnny knoxville october 24, 2013
historical examples
the silent bullet arthur b. reeve
punch or the london charivari, vol. 147, july 8, 1914 various
phil bradley’s mountain boys silas k. boone
phil bradley’s mountain boys silas k. boone
the ethics of medical homicide and mutilation austin o’malley
noun
electromagnetic radiation emitted when matter is bombarded with fast electrons. x-rays have wavelengths shorter than that of ultraviolet radiation, that is less than about 1 × 10–8 metres. they extend to indefinitely short wavelengths, but below about 1 × 10–11 metres they are often called gamma radiation
(as modifier): x-ray astronomy
a picture produced by exposing photographic film to x-rays: used in medicine as a diagnostic aid as parts of the body, such as bones, absorb x-rays and so appear as opaque areas on the picture
(usually capital) (communications) a code word for the letter x
verb (transitive)
to photograph (part of the body, etc) using x-rays
to treat or examine by means of x-rays
n.
v. x-rayed or x-rayed, x-ray·ing or x-ray·ing, x-rays or x-rays
x-ray also x-ray
(ěks’rā’)
note: because x-rays can travel through solid material and affect photographic plates, they are widely used in diagnosing medical problems.
note: objects in the sky also send out x-rays in processes that use very high energy.
Read Also:
- X-ray-astronomy
the branch of astronomy that studies celestial objects by means of the x-rays emitted by them. noun the branch of astronomy concerned with the detection and measurement of x-rays emitted by certain celestial bodies. as x-rays are absorbed by the atmosphere, satellites and rockets are used x-ray astronomy the study of celestial objects by measurement […]
- X-ray-burster
a celestial source from which bursts of x-rays are received.
- X-ray-crystallography
the determination of the structure of a crystal by the use of x-ray diffraction. noun the study and practice of determining the structure of a crystal by p-ssing a beam of x-rays through it and observing and -n-lysing the diffraction pattern produced x-ray crystallography the study of molecular structure by examining diffraction patterns made by […]
- X-ray-photograph
a radiograph made with x-rays. historical examples the memory of mars raymond f. jones punch or the london charivari, vol. 147, july 8, 1914 various the power and the glory grace macgowan cooke the vanishing man r. austin freeman manual of surgery volume second: extremities–head–neck. sixth edition. alexander miles
- X-ray-spectrometer
a spectrometer using x-rays to activate the inner electrons of an atom in order to separate and identify the chemical const-tuents of a substance and their concentrations.