Standard Lemma guide

protonation

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • prōtənā'shən
  • /ˌpɹoʊtəˈneɪʃən/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The addition of a proton (hydrogen ion) to an atom, molecule or ion, normally to generate a cation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: chemistry, natural-sciences, physical-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *per-der.? Proto-Indo-European *pér Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *próder. Ancient Greek πρό (pró) Ancient Greek -ᾰτος (-ătos) Ancient Greek πρῶτον (prôton)lbor. English proton Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English protonation From proton + -ation.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: protonace — addition of a proton
  • French: protonation — addition of a proton
  • German: Protonierung — addition of a proton
  • Italian: protonazione — addition of a proton