"apparatus for accelerating charged atomic particles by causing them to revolve in orbits of increasing diameter," 1935, from cyclo- + ending from electron.
Entries linking to cyclotron
cyclo-
before a vowel, cycl-, word-forming element in technical terms meaning "circle, ring, rotation," from Latinized form of Greek kyklos "circle, wheel, ring" (from PIE root *kwel- (1) "revolve, move round"). In organic chemistry it is used in forming chemical names of cyclic compounds.
electron n.
coined 1891 by Irish physicist George J. Stoney (1826-1911) from electric + -on, as in ion (q.v.). Electron microscope (1932) translates German Elektronenmikroskop.