nuclear

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Using the energy released when atoms are split or joined.

   The country gets much of its electricity from a nuclear power station.

2. 2
   adj

   Relating to weapons that use this energy to cause huge destruction.

   The two nations signed a treaty to reduce their nuclear weapons.

3. 3
   adj

   Relating to the nucleus of an atom.

   She studied nuclear physics at university.

Common collocations

• nuclear family Adjective + noun
• nuclear weapon Adjective + noun
• a nuclear war Adjective + noun
• nuclear arms Adjective + noun
• nuclear power Adjective + noun

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.

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