atomic bomb

American  

[uh-tom-ik bom] / əˈtɒm ɪk ˌbɒm /

Also atom bomb

noun

1. a bomb whose potency is derived from nuclear fission of atoms of fissionable material with the consequent conversion of part of their mass into energy.

2. a bomb whose explosive force comes from a chain reaction based on nuclear fission in U-235 or plutonium.

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atomic bomb British  

noun

1. Also called: A-bomb.   fission bomb.  a type of bomb in which the energy is provided by nuclear fission. Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are the isotopes most commonly used in atomic bombs Compare fusion bomb

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atomic bomb Scientific  

1. A very destructive bomb that derives its explosive power from the fission of atomic nuclei. Atomic bombs usually have plutonium 239 or uranium 235 as their fissionable material.

2. Also called atom bomb

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atomic bomb ¹ Cultural  

1. A bomb that is powered by nuclear fission, and therefore produces a quick release of energy and great destruction.

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atomic bomb ² Cultural  

1. A nuclear weapon whose enormous explosive power results from the sudden release of energy from a fission reaction. (See also Hiroshima (see also Hiroshima), hydrogen bomb, Nagasaki, and Strategic Arms Limitation Talks [SALT].)

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Etymology

Origin of atomic bomb

First recorded in 1910–15

Compare meaning

How does atomic-bomb compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hydrogen bomb vs. atomic bomb
• hydrogen vs. atomic bomb

Example Sentences

His latest remarks, made minutes before a landmark meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, follow a pattern of deeply contradictory signals about atomic bombs.

From Barron's

Mr. Plokhy cites the Labour prime minister, Clement Attlee: “The answer to an atomic bomb on London is an atomic bomb on another great city.”

From The Wall Street Journal

But then, completely unexpectedly months later, America dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

From BBC

The very next day, in fact, the American newspaper PM, based in New York, ran an article speculating on the catastrophic consequences of an atomic bomb detonating in the heart of that very city.

From Salon

"Even though the war was over, the atomic bomb brought invisible terror."

From BBC

Related Words

• atom bomb
• hydrogen bomb
• neutron bomb
• nuclear warhead