afterheat

[ af-ter-heet, ahf- ]

noun

, Physics.

1. the heat generated by radioactivity remaining in a nuclear reactor after it has been shut down.

afterheat

/ ˈɑːftəˌhiːt /

noun

1. the heat generated in a nuclear reactor after it has been shut down, produced by residual radioactivity in the fuel elements

Word History and Origins

Origin of afterheat¹

First recorded in 1970–75; after + heat