reactor

American  

[ree-ak-ter] / riˈæk tər /

noun

1. a person or thing that reacts or undergoes reaction.

2. Electricity. a device whose primary purpose is to introduce reactance into a circuit.

3. Immunology, Veterinary Medicine. a patient or animal that reacts positively towards a foreign material.

4. Physics. nuclear reactor.

5. Chemistry. (especially in industry) a large container, as a vat, for processes in which the substances involved undergo a chemical reaction.

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reactor British  

/ rɪˈæktə /

noun

1. chem a substance, such as a reagent, that undergoes a reaction

2. short for nuclear reactor

3. a vessel, esp one in industrial use, in which a chemical reaction takes place

4. a coil of low resistance and high inductance that introduces reactance into a circuit

5. med a person sensitive to a particular drug or agent

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Other Word Forms

• nonreactor noun

Etymology

Origin of reactor

First recorded in 1885–90; 1940–45 reactor for def. 4; react + -or ²

Example Sentences

The combined entity now possesses 55 gigawatts of generating capacity, including 21 nuclear reactors and over 50 natural gas plants.

From Barron's

Japan ordered all its nuclear power plant reactors to be shut down in 2011 after a magnitude 9 earthquake and massive tsunami caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

From BBC

Japan pulled the plug on nuclear power after a colossal earthquake and tsunami sent three reactors at the Fukushima atomic plant into meltdown in 2011.

From Barron's

Nuclear reactors are expensive and have extended build times.

From Barron's

But, despite extensions to the plant's life, the second reactor was shut down in 2012.

From BBC