nuclear
/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.73 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom.
adj
Involving energy released by nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, radioactive decay).
adj
Relating to a weapon that derives its force from rapid release of energy through nuclear reactions.
adj
adj
Involving an extreme course of action, or one with severe consequences.
adj
Pertaining to the nucleus of a cell.
adj
Pertaining to a centre around which something is developed or organised; central, pivotal.
Archaic
adj
Relating to, being of, or comprising the nuclear family.
Example Sentences
- "a nuclear reactor"
- "nuclear technology"
- "a nuclear explosion"
- "a nuclear power"
- "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."
- "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.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: nū̆cleus
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/
- British English: /ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/
Usage
Subject
Wiktionary places this term in Physics.
Inflected Forms
nuclears (plural)