nuke

[nook, nyook]

noun

1. a nuclear or thermonuclear weapon.

2. a nuclear power plant or nuclear reactor.

3. nuclear energy.

   to convert from coal to nuke.

adjective

1. of or relating to a nuclear or thermonuclear weapon or to a nuclear plant.

verb (used with object)

nuked, nuking 

1. to attack, defeat, or destroy with or as if with nuclear weapons.

2. Slang.,  to cook or bake in a microwave oven.

nuke

/ njuːk /

verb

1. to attack or destroy with nuclear weapons

noun

1. a nuclear bomb

2. a military strike with nuclear weapons

3. nuclear power

4. a nuclear power plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuke¹

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening and respelling

Example Sentences

"I thought we got nuked or something," Mr Rogers told the local newspaper.

From BBC

“I thought we got nuked or something,” said Rogers, 34.

From Los Angeles Times

Unless they are prepared to nuke the filibuster, these proposals are dead.

From Salon

The former president also stated that Russia has "no intention" of giving nukes to Iran.

From Salon

SMRs, sometimes called "mini nukes", work on the same principle as large reactors, using a nuclear reaction to generate heat that produces electricity.

From BBC