# nuclear

/ˈnukɫiɝ/ (US) · /njˈuːkliə/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nuclear
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. atomic energy

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to the energy produced when the center of an atom is split or joined.

For teachers: relating to or involving the energy released by nuclear fission or fusion.

- Many countries are building new nuclear power plants to create electricity without burning coal.
- The debate over nuclear energy often centers on the long-term management of radioactive waste versus the benefit of low-carbon power generation.

### 2. weapons

adjective · CEFR B1

describing powerful weapons that use atomic energy to cause a massive explosion.

For teachers: denoting weapons that derive their destructive force from nuclear reactions.

- The two nations signed a treaty to reduce the number of nuclear missiles they owned.
- The proliferation of nuclear weaponry remains a primary concern for international security and diplomatic relations in the twenty-first century.

### 3. family

adjective · CEFR B2

describing a small family group consisting only of parents and their children.

For teachers: relating to or constituting a family unit consisting of two parents and their offspring.

- In many modern cities, the nuclear family is more common than living with grandparents and cousins.
- Sociologists have noted that while the nuclear family was the twentieth-century ideal, diverse household structures are becoming increasingly prevalent.

### 4. biology

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

relating to the nucleus, which is the control center of a living cell.

For teachers: pertaining to the nucleus of a biological cell.

- The scientist looked at the nuclear membrane under a powerful microscope.
- The study focused on how specific proteins are transported across the nuclear envelope to regulate gene expression.

### 5. extreme action

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

describing a very strong or extreme way of dealing with a problem.

For teachers: referring to an extreme or drastic course of action, often with irreversible consequences.

- The manager decided to go nuclear and fire the entire team after the project failed.
- The board threatened to go nuclear by cancelling the merger entirely if the new terms were not met by midnight.

## Examples

- 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.

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