English Reference
Noun

nuke

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈnuk/ UK /njˈuːk/ nuke UK spelling nuked, nukes, nuking Anatomy Nautical

n.a nuclear weapon. People use this word in casual conversation when talking about atomic bombs or missiles.

n.a nuclear weapon, such as a bomb or missile. Typically avoided in technical or diplomatic contexts.


SIMPLE

The movie was about a group trying to stop a stolen nuke.

CONTEXTUAL

During the Cold War, the fear of a nuke being launched kept the entire world in a state of constant tension.

COMPLEX

While the term is common in political thrillers and casual debate, military officials generally prefer more precise terminology like 'tactical warhead' or 'strategic asset' over the colloquial nuke.

Usage

Informal noun; often used in the plural when discussing global arsenals.


Etymology 1

Clipping of nuclear weapon. The verb is derived from the noun.

Etymology 2

Clipping of nuc(leus).

Etymology 3

See nucha.

Etymology 4

See nook.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated