nuclear

CEFRB1

/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Related to the center of an atom or nuclear energy.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Involving energy released by nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, radioactive decay).

Examples

  • Nuclear weapons are a threat to all humanity.

  • Only by prohibiting nuclear weapons altogether can we stop the arms race.

At a glance

Sits at B1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˈn(j)u.kjə.lɚ/
  • /ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Relating to a weapon that derives its force from rapid release of energy through nuclear reactions.

  2. Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom.

  3. Having nuclear weapons.

More examples

In context

  • Uranium is used to fuel nuclear plants.

  • a nuclear explosion

  • a nuclear reactor

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank power plant generates electricity through the fission of heavy atoms.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Latin nū̆cleus, a contraction of the adjective nuculeus, masculine of feminine nuculea (“pertaining to a small nut”) from nucula + adjectival suffix -eus, -ea, -eum. The Latin nucula + -āris adds up to nuculāris, a term that in English becomes nucular; the Latin nuculea + -āris, becomes Latin nuculeāris (“relative to what pertains to small nut”), later contracted into nuclear. By surface analysis, nucleus + -ar. Compare muscle and Latin mūsculus; muscular and mūsculāris.