nuclear
Use Nuclear in a sentence
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kli adjective
1.
pertaining to or involving atomic weapons: nuclear war.
2.
operated or powered by atomic energy: a nuclear submarine.
3.
(of a nation or group of nations) having atomic weapons.
4.
of, pertaining to, or forming a nucleus.
5.
of, pertaining to, or like the nuclear family: nuclear bonds.
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Nuclear
is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
Related forms
in·ter·nu·cle·ar, adjective
mul·ti·nu·cle·ar, adjective
post·nu·cle·ar, adjective
Pronunciation note
In pronouncing nuclear, the second and third syllables are most commonly said as [-klee-er] a sequence of sounds that directly reflects the spelled sequence ‐cle · ar. In recent years, a somewhat controversial pronunciation has come to public attention, with these two final syllables said as [-kyuh-ler]. Since [-klee-er] the common pronunciation of ‐cle · ar, might also be represented, broadly, as [-kluh-yer] the [-kyuh-ler] pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the [l] and the [y] change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many.
In pronouncing nuclear, the second and third syllables are most commonly said as
[-klee-er] a sequence of sounds that directly reflects the spelled sequence ‐cle · ar. In recent years, a somewhat controversial pronunciation has come to public attention, with these two final syllables said as [-kyuh-ler]. Since [-klee-er] the common pronunciation of ‐cle · ar, might also be represented, broadly, as [-kluh-yer] the [-kyuh-ler] pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the [l] and the [y] change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To nuclear
Collins
World English Dictionary
nuclear (ˈnjuːklɪə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | of, concerned with, or involving the nucleus of an atom: nuclear fission |
| 2. | biology of, relating to, or contained within the nucleus of a cell: a nuclear membrane |
| 3. | of, relating to, forming, or resembling any other kind of nucleus |
| 4. | of, concerned with, or operated by energy from fission or fusion of atomic nuclei: a nuclear weapon |
| 5. | involving, concerned with, or possessing nuclear weapons: nuclear war; a nuclear strike |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
nuclear
1846, "of or like the nucleus of a cell," from nucleus (q.v.), probably by influence of Fr. 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 (18971985).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
nuclear nu·cle·ar (n&oomacr;'klē-ər, ny&oomacr;'-)
adj.
Of or forming a nucleus.
Of or relating to atomic nuclei.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
nuclear (n 'klē-ər) Pronunciation Key
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Most nuclear power plants are behemoths, big enough to power a medium-size city.
Nuclear weapons are often measured in kilotons, but that doesn't really tell the story of a weapon's destructive power.
There are nations near bankruptcy and nuclear weapons.
The element thorium could make nuclear reactors more efficient and generate a lot less weapons-grade plutonium.
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