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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

nuclear.

Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom.

7 characters2 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

adj/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/Canada/ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/Received-Pronunciation/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/US/ˈn(j)u.kjə.lɚ/proscribed
  1. Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom.

    not-comparable
  2. Involving energy released by nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, radioactive decay).

    not-comparable
    a nuclear reactor
    nuclear technology
  3. Relating to a weapon that derives its force from rapid release of energy through nuclear reactions.

    not-comparable
    a nuclear explosion
    a nuclear power
  4. Having nuclear weapons.

    not-comparable
  5. Involving an extreme course of action, or one with severe consequences.

    broadly · figuratively · not-comparable
    nuclear option, nuclear solution
  6. Pertaining to the nucleus of a cell.

    not-comparable
  7. Pertaining to a centre around which something is developed or organised; central, pivotal.

    archaic · not-comparable
    Nuclear Polynesian languages include Hawaiian and Samoan.
  8. Relating to, being of, or comprising the nuclear family.

    not-comparable
Where this word comes from

From Latin nū̆cleus, a contraction of the adjective nuculeus, masculine of feminine nuculea (“pertaining to a small nut”) from nucula + adjectival suffix -eus, -ea, -eum. The Latin nucula + -āris adds up to nuculāris, a term that in English becomes nucular; the Latin nuculea + -āris, becomes Latin nuculeāris (“relative to what pertains to small nut”), later contracted into nuclear. By surface analysis, nucleus + -ar. Compare muscle and Latin mūsculus; muscular and mūsculāris.

noun/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/Canada/ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/Received-Pronunciation/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/US/ˈn(j)u.kjə.lɚ/proscribed
  1. Nuclear power.

    countable · uncountable
  2. Nuclear weapon

    countable · uncountable
Where this word comes from

From Latin nū̆cleus, a contraction of the adjective nuculeus, masculine of feminine nuculea (“pertaining to a small nut”) from nucula + adjectival suffix -eus, -ea, -eum. The Latin nucula + -āris adds up to nuculāris, a term that in English becomes nucular; the Latin nuculea + -āris, becomes Latin nuculeāris (“relative to what pertains to small nut”), later contracted into nuclear. By surface analysis, nucleus + -ar. Compare muscle and Latin mūsculus; muscular and mūsculāris.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.