nuclear

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   constituting or like a nucleus

   annexation of the suburban fringe by the nuclear metropolis

2. 2
   adj

   (weapons) deriving destructive energy from the release of atomic energy

   nuclear war

3. 3
   adj

   of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of an atom

   nuclear physics

4. 4
   adj

   of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of a cell

   nuclear membrane

5. 5
   adj

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

   a nuclear reactor

6. 6
   adj

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

   a nuclear explosion

7. 7
   adj

   Having nuclear weapons.

   They will blame him for pursuing the ideological aim of destruction of Israel – something many Iranians don't support. They will blame him for what they perceive as a folly – his belief that achieving nuclear status would render his regime invincible.

8. 8
   adj

   Involving an extreme course of action, or one with severe consequences.

   nuclear option, nuclear solution

Etymology

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.