breeder reactor

American  

[bree-der-ree-ak-ter] / ˈbri dər riˈæk tər /

noun

1. Physics. a nuclear reactor that generates more fissile material than it consumes, that is, it produces more fuel than it uses.

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breeder reactor British  

noun

1. a type of nuclear reactor that produces more fissionable material than it consumes Compare converter reactor See also fast-breeder reactor

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breeder reactor Scientific  

/ brē′dər /

1. A nuclear reactor that is used to create fissionable material (such as plutonium-239) by exposing nonfissionable material (such as uranium-238) to radiation. The source of the radiation is usually some other fissionable material. Breeder reactors produce more fissionable material than they use up.

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breeder reactor Cultural  

1. A nuclear reactor in which plutonium and other materials are produced as a by-product.

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Discover More

The development of the breeder reactor has been stopped in the United States, but continues to be pursued in Europe and Japan.

Breeder reactors are designed to produce more fuel than they consume.

Example Sentences

Unfortunately, no commercially viable breeder reactor has ever been built.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2022

A breeder reactor can provide a twofer: disposing of what is now considered a problematic waste while producing a very large amount of energy for centuries.

From Washington Post • Apr. 19, 2022

TerraPower wants to partner with countries that are actively pursuing fast, breeder reactor technology.

From Scientific American • Jun. 23, 2011

A breeder reactor uses plutonium as fuel rather than uranium: by atomic fission, additional uranium placed in the breeder is converted into more plutonium than was consumed in the original reaction.

From Time Magazine Archive

For future generations, we can't give up such an important energy resource as the breeder reactor.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• reactor