Gamma

Gamma

Gamma (uppercase Γ, lowercase γ; _el. Γάμμα) is the third letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals it has a value of 3. It was derived from the Phoenician letter Gimel Ґ.

In Modern Greek, it represents either a voiced velar fricative IPA|/ɣ/ or a voiced palatal fricative IPA|/ʝ/. In Ancient Greek, it represented a voiced velar stop IPA|/ɡ/. Before velars, it represents a velar nasal IPA|/ŋ/ in Modern as well as Ancient Greek, and a double gamma represents a prenasalized voiced velar stop (IPA|/ŋɡ/).

Gamma combinations

The gamma can be combined with other letters or itself.
*A double gamma (γγ) is pronounced like the ng in "jumping"
*A gamma with xi (γξ) is pronounced roughly like the nx in "Sphinx"
*(γχ) is pronounced like the nkh in "ankh"
*A gamma combined with kappa (γκ) is pronounced like the nk in "banker"

Use as a symbol or a term

Gamma is often used to denote a variable in mathematics and physics.In certain areas it has a specific meaning, such as representing gamma radiation in nuclear physics and the Lorentz factor in theory of relativity. In mathematics, there is a gamma function (usually written as Γ-function.)

See also

*Г, г - Ge (Cyrillic)
*G, g - Latin


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  • gamma — [ ga(m)ma ] n. m. • transcrit 1824; mot gr. 1 ♦ Troisième lettre de l alphabet grec (Γ, γ), correspondant au G [ g ] . 2 ♦ POINT GAMMA.Astron. Intersection de l écliptique avec le plan de l équateur. ⇒ vernal. Arg. scol. Fête de l École… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • gamma (1) — {{hw}}{{gamma (1)}{{/hw}}A s. m. inv. Nome della terza lettera dell alfabeto greco. B  in funzione di agg. inv.  ( posposto a un s. ) (fis.)  Nella locuz. raggi –g, radiazioni elettromagnetiche ad alta frequenza che si generano nel nucleo atomico …   Enciclopedia di italiano

  • Gamma-GT — Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase La gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT ou GGTP, ou Gamma GT ou γ GT, etc.) (EC 2.3.2.2) est une enzyme hépatique. Cette enzyme est également présente dans d autres tissus, tels l épididyme. La détermination de son… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Gamma GT — Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase La gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT ou GGTP, ou Gamma GT ou γ GT, etc.) (EC 2.3.2.2) est une enzyme hépatique. Cette enzyme est également présente dans d autres tissus, tels l épididyme. La détermination de son… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • gamma — gam ma (g[a^]m m[.a]), n. The third letter ([Gamma], [gamma] = Eng. G) of the Greek alphabet. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • gamma — third letter of the Greek alphabet, c.1400, from Gk. gamma, from Phoenician gimel, lit. camel (see CAMEL (Cf. camel)); so called for a fancied resemblance of its shape to some part of a camel. Gamma rays (1903) originally were thought to be a… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Gamma [2] — Gamma, der dritte Buchstabe des griech. Alphabeths (Γ, γ), entsprechend dem »G«. – In der Musik war G. früher der Name des unserm großen G entsprechenden Tones. Da bis zum 14. Jahrh. dieser Ton nach der Tiefe die Grenze blieb, so erhielt »gamme«… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • gamma — s.f. [dal nome della lettera gr. Γ, gamma maiusc., che nella notazione musicale gr. indicava il suono fondamentale (sol ) nel sistema teorizzato da Pitagora]. 1. (mus.) a. [successione ordinata dei suoni di un sistema musicale] ▶◀ scala… …   Enciclopedia Italiana

  • gamma — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. ż Ia, CMc. gammie, blm {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} trzecia litera alfabetu greckiego <gr.>{{/stl 7}}{{stl 17}}ZOB. {{/stl 17}}{{stl 7}}promienie [promieniowanie] gamma {{/stl 7}} …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • gamma — (Del gr. γάμμα). 1. f. Tercera letra del alfabeto griego (Γ, γ), que corresponde a g del latino. 2. Unidad de medida, no aceptada por el Sistema Internacional de unidades, equivalente a una millonésima de gramo. ☛ V. rayos gamma …   Diccionario de la lengua española

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