nuclear
- 01 B1 Intermediate
relating to the energy produced when the center of an atom is split or joined.
relating to or involving the energy released by nuclear fission or fusion.
Simple“Many countries are building new nuclear power plants to create electricity without burning coal.”
In context“The debate over nuclear energy often centers on the long-term management of radioactive waste versus the benefit of low-carbon power generation.”
Synonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
describing powerful weapons that use atomic energy to cause a massive explosion.
denoting weapons that derive their destructive force from nuclear reactions.
Simple“The two nations signed a treaty to reduce the number of nuclear missiles they owned.”
In context“The proliferation of nuclear weaponry remains a primary concern for international security and diplomatic relations in the twenty-first century.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
describing a small family group consisting only of parents and their children.
relating to or constituting a family unit consisting of two parents and their offspring.
Simple“In many modern cities, the nuclear family is more common than living with grandparents and cousins.”
In context“Sociologists have noted that while the nuclear family was the twentieth-century ideal, diverse household structures are becoming increasingly prevalent.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
relating to the nucleus, which is the control center of a living cell.
pertaining to the nucleus of a biological cell.
Simple“The scientist looked at the nuclear membrane under a powerful microscope.”
In context“The study focused on how specific proteins are transported across the nuclear envelope to regulate gene expression.”
Antonyms - 05 C1 Advanced
describing a very strong or extreme way of dealing with a problem.
referring to an extreme or drastic course of action, often with irreversible consequences.
Simple“The manager decided to go nuclear and fire the entire team after the project failed.”
In context“The board threatened to go nuclear by cancelling the merger entirely if the new terms were not met by midnight.”
Usage nuclear weapon · nuclear power · nuclear fusion
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.