NUCLEAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does nuclear mean? 

• NUCLEAR (adjective)
  The adjective NUCLEAR has 4 senses:

1. (weapons) deriving destructive energy from the release of atomic energy

2. of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of an atom

3. of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of a cell

4. constituting or like a nucleus

  Familiarity information: NUCLEAR used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• NUCLEAR (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(weapons) deriving destructive energy from the release of atomic energy

Synonyms:

atomic; nuclear

Context example:

atomic bombs

Similar:

thermonuclear (using nuclear weapons based on fusion as distinguished from fission)

Antonym:

conventional ((weapons) using energy for propulsion or destruction that is not nuclear energy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of an atom

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

nuclear forces

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Pertainym:

nucleus (the positively charged dense center of an atom)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of a cell

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

nuclear division

Domain category:

biological science; biology (the science that studies living organisms)

Pertainym:

nucleus (a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Constituting or like a nucleus

Context example:

the nuclear core of the congregation

Similar:

central (in or near a center or constituting a center; the inner area)

 Context examples 

An international team of astronomers has identified a record breaking brown dwarf (a star too small for nuclear fusion) with the 'purest' composition and the highest mass yet known.

(Astronomers Identify Purest, Most Massive Brown Dwarf, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

This protein is one of at least two proteins that are similar in amino acid sequence to PP32 and are part of the same acidic nuclear phosphoprotein gene family.

(ANP32C Protein, NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)

This allele, which encodes acidic leucine-rich nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member B, is involved in apoptotic regulation through signal transduction pathways.

(ANP32B wt Allele, NCI Thesaurus)

When π1 Gruis ran out of hydrogen to burn long ago, this ancient star ceased the first stage of its nuclear fusion programme.

(Giant Bubbles on Red Giant Star’s Surface, ESO)

They used somatic cell nuclear transfer, the same method that was used to create Dolly the sheep in 1996.

(Healthy cloned monkeys born in Shanghai, Wikinews)

A monoclonal antibody which recognizes the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) A2/B1, a potential epithelial marker in the detection of early lung cancer, on cell surfaces.

(Monoclonal Antibody 703D4, NCI Thesaurus)

For example, the nuclear DNA could be European whilst the mitochondrial DNA is Asian.

(Interplay between mitochondria and the nucleus may have implications for changing cell’s ‘batteries’, University of Cambridge)

This gene is involved in binding to both RNA and nuclear matrix proteins.

(MORC3 Gene, NCI Thesaurus)

The nuclear receptor CAR is activated by many different exogenous compounds, including acetaminophen, inducing expression of three cytochrome P450 enzymes that transform acetaminophen into NAPQI, a reactive and toxic metabolite.

(Acetaminophen Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Aminocamptothecin binds to the nuclear enzyme topoisomerase I, thereby inhibiting repair of single-strand DNA breakages.

(Aminocamptothecin, NCI Thesaurus)