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Nuclear: meaning, definitions and examples

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nuclear

 

[ ˈnjuː.kli.ər ]

Adjective / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Adjective

energy

relating to the nucleus of an atom or to the energy produced by nuclear reactions

Synonyms

atomic, atomic-powered, nuclear-powered

Examples of usage

  • nuclear power plants provide electricity to millions of homes
  • nuclear weapons have the potential to cause mass destruction
Context #2 | Adjective

biology

relating to or involving the nucleus of a cell

Synonyms

cellular, nucleic

Examples of usage

  • nuclear membrane
  • nuclear DNA
Context #3 | Noun

physics

the central part of an atom, consisting of protons and neutrons

Synonyms

center, core, kernel

Examples of usage

  • the nucleus is the core of an atom
  • nuclear fusion involves combining atomic nuclei

Translations

Translations of the word "nuclear" in other languages:

🇵🇹 nuclear

🇮🇳 परमाणु

🇩🇪 nuklear

🇮🇩 nuklir

🇺🇦 ядерний

🇵🇱 jądrowy

🇯🇵 核の (かくの, kakuno)

🇫🇷 nucléaire

🇪🇸 nuclear

🇹🇷 nükleer

🇰🇷 핵의 (haeg-ui)

🇸🇦 نووي (nawawi)

🇨🇿 jaderný

🇸🇰 jadrový

🇨🇳 核的 (hé de)

🇸🇮 jedrski

🇮🇸 kjarnorku-

🇰🇿 ядролық

🇬🇪 ბირთვული (birtvuli)

🇦🇿 nüvə

🇲🇽 nuclear

Word origin

The word 'nuclear' originated in the early 20th century from the Latin word 'nucleus', meaning 'kernel' or 'core'. It first appeared in scientific literature in the context of atomic physics and nuclear energy. The usage of 'nuclear' expanded to various fields such as biology, chemistry, and engineering, reflecting its importance in modern science and technology.

See also: nucleic, nucleus.

Word Frequency Rank

This word ranks #1,580, placing it within important intermediate vocabulary. Learning it will significantly improve your ability to express yourself in English.