nuclear
pronunciation
How to pronounce nuclear in British English:
UK [ˈnjuːkliə(r)]
How to pronounce nuclear in American English:
US [ˈnuːkliər]
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- Adjective:
- (weapons) deriving destructive energy from the release of atomic energy
- of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of an atom
- of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of a cell
- constituting or like a nucleus
Word Origin
- nuclear
- nuclear: see nut
- nuclear (adj.)
- 1846, "of or like the nucleus of a cell," from nucleus + -ar, probably by influence of French nucléaire. Use in atomic physics is from 1914; of weapons, from 1945. Hence nuclear physics (1933), nuclear energy (1941), nuclear war (1954). Nuclear winter coined by Richard Turco, but first attested in article by Carl Sagan in "Parade" magazine, Oct. 30, 1983. General sense of "central" is from 1912. Nuclear family, originally a sociologists' term, is first attested 1949 in "Social Structure," by American anthropologist G.P. Murdock (1897-1985). Alternative adjective nucleal is recorded from 1840.
Example
- 1. Nuclear technology helps make our food safe .
- 2. How does a nuclear reactor work ?
- 3. The nuclear fuel is uranium oxide .
- 4. But nuclear power is complicated .
- 5. But other nuclear dangers are growing .