nuclear

[ noo-klee-er, nyoo-or, by metathesis, -kyuh-ler ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or involving atomic weapons:

   nuclear war.

2. operated or powered by atomic energy:

   a nuclear submarine.

3. (of a nation or group of nations) having atomic weapons.
4. of, relating to, or forming a nucleus.
5. of, relating to, or like the nuclear family:

   nuclear bonds.

noun

, Informal.

1. nuclear energy:

   switching to nuclear as a power source.

nuclear

/ ˈnjuːklɪə /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or involving the nucleus of an atom

   nuclear fission

2. biology of, relating to, or contained within the nucleus of a cell

   a nuclear membrane

3. of, relating to, forming, or resembling any other kind of nucleus
4. of, concerned with, or operated by energy from fission or fusion of atomic nuclei

   a nuclear weapon

5. involving, concerned with, or possessing nuclear weapons

   nuclear war

   a nuclear strike

nuclear

/ no̅o̅′klē-ər /

1. Relating to or forming a cell nucleus.
2. Relating to atomic nuclei.
3. Using energy derived from the nuclei of atoms through fission or fusion reactions.

Pronunciation Note

In pronouncing nuclear, the second and third syllables are most commonly said as [-klee-er], a sequence of sounds that directly reflects the spelled sequence ‑cle·ar. In recent years, a somewhat controversial pronunciation has come to public attention, with these two final syllables said as [-ky, uh, -ler]. Since [-klee-er], the common pronunciation of ‑cle·ar, might also be represented, broadly, as [-kl, uh, -yer], the [-ky, uh, -ler] pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the [l] and the [y] change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many.

Other Words From

• in·ter·nu·cle·ar adjective
• mul·ti·nu·cle·ar adjective
• post·nu·cle·ar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclear¹

1840–50; nucle(us) + -ar ¹; compare French nucléaire

Example Sentences

But I think Steve Austin has to team up with a Japanese holdout to stop a nuclear bomb from going off or something.

From The Daily Beast

He used negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program as an example.

From The Daily Beast

Gordon G. Chang is a Forbes.com columnist and the author of Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World.

From The Daily Beast

Binding the resolution of my case to progress in the nuclear negotiations is profoundly unjust.

From The Daily Beast

“Heavy water”, or D2O, is even less common in nature, though nuclear engineers make and use it in some reactors.

From The Daily Beast

Upon careful inspection, however, delicate nuclear bands connecting the parts can usually be seen.

From Project Gutenberg

After a detailed discussion by Hartson Brant of the properties and limitations of nuclear explosions, the conference agreed.

From Project Gutenberg

Rick and Scotty watched the placement of the nuclear explosive—a simple steel can, from the outside—in the big hole.

From Project Gutenberg

But even to the nuclear explosion those rocks won't mean much.

From Project Gutenberg

Charlie was an engineer at the new nuclear powerhouse, just out of town.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• basic
• essential
• fundamental
• important
• key
• paramount
• pivotal
• significant