lambda

 
Pronunciation: /ˈlamdə/

noun

  • the eleventh letter of the Greek alphabet (Λ, λ), transliterated as ‘l’.
  • (Lambda) [followed by Latin genitive] Astronomy the eleventh star in a constellation: Lambda Tauri
  • Biology a type of bacteriophage virus used in genetic research: [as modifier]: lambda phage
  • Anatomy the point at the back of the skull where the parietal bones and the occipital bone meet.
  • [as modifier] Biochemistry denoting one of the two types of light polypeptide chain present in all immunoglobulin molecules (the other being kappa).

symbol

  • (λ) wavelength.
  • (λ) Astronomy celestial longitude.

Origin:

Greek