nuclear
adj.adj. relating to the energy produced when atoms are split or joined together. It also describes the central part of a cell or a small, basic family group.
adj. relating to the nucleus of an atom, the energy released by its fission or fusion, or the nucleus of a biological cell. Also used to describe a core family unit consisting of parents and children.
The country is building a new nuclear power plant.
Scientists are studying the nuclear structure of the cell to understand how genetic information is stored.
The debate over nuclear energy often centers on the balance between its low carbon emissions and the long-term challenges of radioactive waste management.
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.
Typically used as an attributive adjective, appearing before the noun it modifies.