nucleate

American  

[noo-klee-it, -eyt, nyoo-, noo-klee-eyt, nyoo-] / ˈnu kli ɪt, -ˌeɪt, ˈnyu-, ˈnu kliˌeɪt, ˈnyu- /

adjective

1. having a nucleus.

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verb (used with object)

nucleated, nucleating

1. to form (something) into a nucleus.

verb (used without object)

nucleated, nucleating

1. to form a nucleus.

nucleate British  

adjective

1. having a nucleus

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verb

1. to form a nucleus

Other Word Forms

• multinucleate
  adjective
• nucleation
  noun
• nucleator
  noun
• unnucleated
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of nucleate

First recorded in 1860–65, nucleate is from the Latin word nucleātus having a kernel or stone. See nucleus, -ate ¹

Example Sentences

It is thought that small carbon clusters containing Si atoms might serve as the 'pre-nuclei', which can then grow further to nucleate a diamond.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

“There also needs to be laboratory research to investigate the consequences of adding these metals to sulfuric acid particles. Can the particles nucleate ice and impact clouds and chemistry in the stratosphere?”

From Scientific American • Oct. 26, 2023

Over time, Duszyn´ski hopes the elite teams will nucleate Ukraine’s scientific revival, by strengthening their connections to top institutions all over the world.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 6, 2022

So I think it’s artistic license to suggest that that could nucleate some fireworks.

From The Verge • Dec. 17, 2021

The spores are tawny-ochraceous, subglobose or broadly elliptic, nucleate, 8–10� long, 6–7� broad.

From The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise Its Habitat and its Time of Growth by Hard, Miron Elisha