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photonuclear

American  
[foh-toh-noo-klee-er, -nyoo-, -kyuh-ler] / ˌfoʊ toʊˈnu kli ər, -ˈnyu-, -kyə lər /

adjective

Physics.

  1. of, relating to, or caused by the collision of high-energy photons with the nucleus of an atom.

photonuclear British  
/ ˌfəʊtəʊˈnjuːklɪə /

adjective

  1. physics of or concerned with a nuclear reaction caused by a photon

"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

Pronunciation

See nuclear.

Etymology

Origin of photonuclear

First recorded in 1940–45; photo- + nuclear

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Pinlighting consisted of the detonation of ultra-vivid miniature photonuclear bombs, which converted a few ounces of a magnesium isotope into pure visible radiance.

From The Game of Rat and Dragon by Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.