nucleate

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

See synonyms for: 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.

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-/, noun
nu·cle·a·tor, noun
mul·ti·nu·cle·ate, adjective
un·nu·cle·at·ed, adjective

Words Nearby nucleate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nucleate in a sentence

This temperature is much higher than most other known ice nucleate material.
Scientists advance cloud-seeding capabilities with nanotechnology | Jenn Webb | March 28, 2022 | MIT Technology Review
This is when other ideas begin to nucleate around the core idea.
How I Write: Paul Lynch | Noah Charney | December 18, 2013 | THE 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, noun
nucleator, 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

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