Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
nuclear - 6 dictionary results

nu⋅cle⋅ar

[noo-klee-er, nyoo- or, by metathesis, -kyuh-ler]
–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.
–noun Informal.
6. nuclear energy: switching to nuclear as a power source.

Origin:
1840–50; nucle(us) + -ar 1 ; cf. F nucléaire


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 ‑clear. 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 ‑clear, 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.
nu·cle·ar   (nōō'klē-ər, nyōō'-)   
adj.  
  1. Biology Of, relating to, or forming a nucleus: a nuclear membrane.
  2. Physics Of or relating to atomic nuclei: a nuclear chain reaction.
  3. Using or derived from the energy of atomic nuclei: nuclear power.
  4. Of, using, or possessing atomic or hydrogen bombs: nuclear war; nuclear nations.

[From nucleus.]
Usage Note: The pronunciation (nōō'kyə-lər), which is generally considered incorrect, is an example of how a familiar phonological pattern can influence an unfamiliar one. The usual pronunciation of the final two syllables of this word is (-klē-ər), but this sequence of sounds is rare in English. Much more common is the similar sequence (-kyə-lər), which occurs in words like particular, circular, spectacular, and in many scientific words like molecular, ocular, and vascular.

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 (1897–1985).
Language Translation for : nuclear
Spanish: nuclear,
German: Atom-…,
Japanese: 原子力の

Main Entry: nu·cle·ar
Pronunciation: 'n(y)ü-klE-&r
Function: adjective
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a nucleus
2 : of, relating to, or utilizing the atomic nucleus, atomic energy, the atomic bomb, or atomic power

nuclear nu·cle·ar (n&oomacr;'klē-ər, ny&oomacr;'-)
adj.

  1. Of or forming a nucleus.
  2. Of or relating to atomic nuclei.

nuclear   (n'klē-ər)  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Relating to or forming a cell nucleus.
  2. Relating to atomic nuclei.
  3. Using energy derived from the nuclei of atoms through fission or fusion reactions.

Search another word or see nuclear on Thesaurus | Reference