radioactive

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   exhibiting or caused by radioactivity

   Radioactive isotope.

2. 2
   adj

   Exhibiting radioactivity.

   As a matter of fact many of our best drinking waters have all sorts of unspecified qualities. Burton water, for example, is radioactive by Beetham's standards up to the ninth degree.

3. 3
   adj

   Dangerous and disgusting, particularly of people or ideas.

   Even sleazy tactics and his radioactive mouth may not be able to contain this debacle.

4. 4
   noun

   Any radioactive substance.

   Any ship nearby will receive a lethal dose of gamma rays, neutrons, and other radioactives.

Coined by Pierre Curie and Marie Curie in 1898 as French radio-actif, equivalent to English radio- + active.

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