nuclear

B1 Topic:Physics

US /ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/ UK /ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Freq #2902

Meanings

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

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

The two nations signed a treaty to reduce their nuclear weapons.
3

adj
Relating to the nucleus of an atom.

She studied nuclear physics at university.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · relating to weapons that... atomic

Word family

Derived forms anuclearastronuclearbinuclearbionuclearcentronuclearcircumnuclearcorticonuclearcytonucleardinuclearelectronuclearendonuclearextranuclear

Related forms nucleinucleo-nucleus

Appears in

Phrases (9)

See all

nuclear family
a family unit of two parents and their children living together

Adjective + noun
nuclear weapon
a weapon that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions

Adjective + noun
a nuclear war
a war in which nuclear weapons are used

Adjective + noun
nuclear arms
weapons that use nuclear reactions to cause destruction

Adjective + noun
nuclear power
energy generated by nuclear reactions, used to produce electricity

Adjective + noun
nuclear cataract
a cataract affecting the central part of the eye's lens

Adjective + noun

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.

nū̆cleus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Physics Energy & Industry

External links

# nuclear

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/
**Frequency rank:** 2902

## Meanings
1. Using the energy released when atoms are split or joined.
2. Relating to weapons that use this energy to cause huge destruction.
3. Relating to the nucleus of an atom.

## Examples
- The country gets much of its electricity from a nuclear power station.
- The two nations signed a treaty to reduce their nuclear weapons.
- She studied nuclear physics at university.

## Derived Forms
- anuclear
- astronuclear
- binuclear
- bionuclear
- centronuclear
- circumnuclear
- corticonuclear
- cytonuclear
- dinuclear
- electronuclear
- endonuclear
- extranuclear

## Related Forms
- nuclei
- nucleo-
- nucleus

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: nū̆cleus

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Nuclear comes 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. Modern senses include using the energy released when atoms are split or joined and relating to weapons that use this energy to cause huge destruction. The wider word family includes derivatives such as anuclear, astronuclear, binuclear, bionuclear, centronuclear, and circumnuclear and related forms such as nuclei, nucleo-, and nucleus.

## Topics
- Physics
- Energy & Industry

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