control rod

noun

1. a neutron-absorbing material, as boron or cadmium, in the shape of a rod or other configuration, that can be moved into or out of the core of a nuclear reactor to regulate the rate of fission.

control rod

noun

1. one of a number of rods or tubes containing a neutron absorber, such as boron, that can be inserted into or retracted from the core of a nuclear reactor in order to control its rate of reaction

Word History and Origins

Origin of control rod¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

“I’m meeting all these people that are like, ‘I feel like this control rod could get longer,” he said.

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The sink stopper and the control rod that makes the stopper go up and down are choke points within the tailpiece pipe just under the sink.

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That’s a process in which all control rods are inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure.

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That means control rods have been inserted into the reactor core to stop the nuclear fission reaction and generation of heat and pressure.

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Shutting down a nuclear reactor involves inserting control rods between the fuel rods to stop the fission reaction.

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