hydrogen bomb

American  

[hahy-druh-juhn bom] / ˈhaɪ drə dʒən ˌbɒm /

Also H-bomb

noun

1. a bomb, more powerful than an atomic bomb, that derives its explosive energy from the thermonuclear fusion reaction of hydrogen isotopes.

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hydrogen bomb British  

noun

1. Also called: H-bomb.  a type of bomb in which energy is released by fusion of hydrogen nuclei to give helium nuclei. The energy required to initiate the fusion is provided by the detonation of an atomic bomb, which is surrounded by a hydrogen-containing substance such as lithium deuteride See also fusion bomb

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hydrogen bomb Scientific  

1. An extremely destructive bomb whose explosive power is derived from the energy released when hydrogen atoms are fused to form helium. This atomic fusion reaction is the same reaction that takes place in stars like the Sun, where the pressure of gravity forces hydrogen atoms to fuse; a hydrogen bomb uses the force of an atomic explosion (the fission reaction exploited in atomic bombs) to compress the hydrogen to the point where fusion takes place. Hydrogen bombs are many times more powerful than atomic bombs.

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hydrogen bomb Cultural  

1. A nuclear weapon with enormous explosive power, fueled by nuclear fusion, in which atoms of hydrogen combine to form atoms of helium.

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Etymology

Origin of hydrogen bomb

First recorded in 1945–50

Compare meaning

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

• hydrogen bomb vs. atomic bomb

Example Sentences

At that point President Truman ordered the development of the even more powerful hydrogen bomb.

From Literature

It has been deployed also by the military for mine detection, to search for lost submarines and, in one highly publicized case, to search for a hydrogen bomb lost at sea.

From Literature

He could see why a hydrogen bomb’s power would be virtually unlimited.

From Literature

Teller’s explanation was likely self-serving given his later acrimonious rift with Oppenheimer over the hydrogen bomb.

From Salon

From 1952 and for the following 15 years, about 39,000 British and Commonwealth servicemen and scientists witnessed 45 atomic and hydrogen bombs, and hundreds of radioactive experiments, in the Australian Outback and Pacific atolls.

From BBC