Thomson

UK: /ˈtɒmsən/ US: (tom′sən)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

Thom•son  (tom′sən), n. 

1. Biographical Elihu, 1853–1937, U.S. inventor, born in England.
2. Biographical Sir George Paget, 1892–1975, English physicist (son of Sir Joseph John): Nobel prize 1937.
3. Biographical James, 1700–48, English poet, born in Scotland.
4. Biographical James ("B.V.''), 1834–82, English poet.
5. Biographical John Arthur, 1861–1933, Scottish scientist and author.
6. Biographical Sir Joseph John, 1856–1940, English physicist: Nobel prize 1906.
7. Biographical Virgil, born 1896, U.S. composer and music critic.
8. Biographical Sir William. See Kelvin, 1st Baron. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Thomson / ˈtɒmsən/ noun

1. Sir George Paget, son of Joseph John Thomson. 1892–1975, British physicist, who discovered (1927) the diffraction of electrons by crystals: shared the Nobel prize for physics 1937
2. James. 1700–48, Scottish poet. He anticipated the romantics' feeling for nature in The Seasons (1726–30)
3. James, pen name B.V. 1834–82, British poet, born in Scotland, noted esp for The City of Dreadful Night (1874), reflecting humankind's isolation and despair
4. Sir Joseph John. 1856–1940, British physicist. He discovered the electron (1897) and his work on the nature of positive rays led to the discovery of isotopes: Nobel prize for physics 1906
5. Roy, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet. 1894–1976, British newspaper proprietor, born in Canada
6. Virgil. 1896–1989, US composer, music critic, and conductor, whose works include two operas, Four Saints in Three Acts (1928) and The Mother of Us All (1947), piano sonatas, a cello concerto, songs, and film music