nucleate

[ adjective noo-klee-it, -eyt, nyoo-; verb noo-klee-eyt, nyoo- ]

/ adjective ˈnu kli ɪt, -ˌeɪt, ˈnyu-; verb ˈnu kliˌeɪt, ˈnyu- /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: nucleate / nucleation on Thesaurus.com

adjective

having a nucleus.

verb (used with object), nu·cle·at·ed, nu·cle·at·ing.

to form (something) into a nucleus.

verb (used without object), nu·cle·at·ed, nu·cle·at·ing.

to form a nucleus.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON THE 12 TYPES OF VERB TENSES!

Loosen up your grammar muscles because it’s time to test your knowledge on verb tenses!

Question 1 of 6

The verb tenses can be split into which 3 primary categories?

action, linking, and helping

dynamic, static, and auxiliary

past, present, and future

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar Coach

Improve Your Writing

Origin of nucleate

First recorded in 1860–65, nucleate is from the Latin word nucleātus having a kernel or stone. See nucleus, -ate¹

OTHER WORDS FROM nucleate

nu·cle·a·tion

[noo-klee-ey-shuhn, nyoo-], /ˌnu kliˈeɪ ʃən, ˌnyu-/, nounnu·cle·a·tor, nounmul·ti·nu·cle·ate, adjectiveun·nu·cle·at·ed, adjective

Words nearby nucleate

nuclear warhead, nuclear waste, nuclear weapon, nuclear winter, nuclease, nucleate, nucleated, nucleating agent, nucleation, nuclei, nucleic acid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use nucleate in a sentence

This is when other ideas begin to nucleate around the core idea.
How I Write: Paul Lynch|Noah Charney|December 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I heard a doctor say to let 'im rest to-night an' 'nucleate in the mornin'.
The Hole in the Wall|Arthur Morrison

British Dictionary definitions for nucleate

nucleate

adjective (ˈnjuːklɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)

having a nucleus

verb (ˈnjuːklɪˌeɪt) (intr)

to form a nucleus

Derived forms of nucleate

nucleation, nounnucleator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for nucleate

nucleate

[ nōō′klē-āt′, -ĭt ]

adj.

Nucleated.

v.

To form into a nucleus.

To serve or act as a nucleus for.

To provide a nucleus for.

n.

A salt of a nucleic acid.