An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The reaction that transforms a → proton into a → neutron when a proton and an → electron are forced together to make a neutron: p + e^-→ n + ν^__e. In astronomy, this process occurs during the → core collapse of → massive stars which leads to the formation of → neutron stars.

See also: → neutron; → -ize; → -tion.