nuclear

[noo-klee-er, nyoo-, -kyuh-ler]

adjective

1. pertaining to or involving atomic weapons.

   nuclear war.

2. operated or powered by atomic energy.

   a nuclear submarine.

3. (of a nation or group of nations) having atomic weapons.

4. of, relating to, or forming a nucleus.

5. of, relating to, or like the nuclear family.

   nuclear bonds.

noun

Informal.

1. nuclear energy.

   switching to nuclear as a power source.

nuclear

/ ˈnjuːklɪə /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or involving the nucleus of an atom

   nuclear fission

2. biology of, relating to, or contained within the nucleus of a cell

   a nuclear membrane

3. of, relating to, forming, or resembling any other kind of nucleus

4. of, concerned with, or operated by energy from fission or fusion of atomic nuclei

   a nuclear weapon

5. involving, concerned with, or possessing nuclear weapons

   nuclear war

   a nuclear strike

nuclear

1. Relating to or forming a cell nucleus.

2. Relating to atomic nuclei.

3. Using energy derived from the nuclei of atoms through fission or fusion reactions.

Pronunciation Note

In pronouncing nuclear, the second and third syllables are most commonly said as , a sequence of sounds that directly reflects the spelled sequence ‑cle·ar. In recent years, a somewhat controversial pronunciation has come to public attention, with these two final syllables said as . Since , the common pronunciation of ‑cle·ar, might also be represented, broadly, as , the pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the and the change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many.

Other Word Forms

• internuclear adjective
• multinuclear adjective
• postnuclear adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclear¹

1840–50; nucle(us) + -ar ¹; compare French nucléaire

Example Sentences

Two cabinet ministers have already been removed from their posts this month, following allegations of a $100 million corruption scheme at the state nuclear energy company.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In experiments using cultured human cells, the team found that these GSH-DNA adducts build up in mtDNA at levels up to 80 times higher than in nuclear DNA.

Read more on Science Daily

Putin on Thursday held out the prospect of Russia and the U.S. working together on regulating nuclear testing, without elaborating, and suggested that could be discussed between aides meeting in Moscow next week.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It could also accelerate the nuclear arms race between the U.S.,

Read more on Salon

We rightly fear nuclear proliferation, and yet “amazing grace and good fortune,” and admirable postwar statecraft, “actually bent the arc of history.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• basic 
• essential 
• fundamental 
• important 
• key 
• paramount 
• pivotal 
• significant