nuclear

== English == === Etymology === 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. === Pronunciation === (Canada) enPR: n(y)o͞okliər, IPA(key): /ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/ (Received Pronunciation) enPR: nyo͞oklî(r), IPA(key): /ˈnjuː.klɪə(ɹ)/ (US) enPR: n(y)o͞okliər, n(y)o͞okyələr, IPA(key): /ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/ (proscribed) IPA(key): /ˈn(j)u.kjə.lɚ/ (see usage notes) Rhymes: -uːkliə(ɹ), -uːklɪə(ɹ), -uːkjələ(ɹ) === Adjective === nuclear (not comparable) Pertaining to the nucleus of an atom. [from 20th c.] Involving energy released by nuclear reactions (fission, fusion, radioactive decay). [from 20th c.] Relating to a weapon that derives its force from rapid release of energy through nuclear reactions. [from 20th c.] Having nuclear weapons. (by extension, figurative, of a solution or response) Involving an extreme course of action, or one with severe consequences. (biology) Pertaining to the nucleus of a cell. [from 19th c.] (archaic) Pertaining to a centre around which something is developed or organised; central, pivotal. [from 19th c.] Relating to, being of, or comprising the nuclear family. ==== Usage notes ==== The pronunciation /nukjəlɚ/, although included by some sources such as Merriam-Webster (Online 10th Edition), is nonstandard and listed as such. See also nucular, and nucular in Wikipedia. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Translations ==== ==== Further reading ==== Nuclear on Wikipedia.Wikipedia === Noun === nuclear (countable and uncountable, plural nuclears) Nuclear power. Nuclear weapon === Anagrams === crenula, lucarne, unclear == Catalan == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Central) [nu.kleˈar] IPA(key): (Balearic) [nu.kleˈa] IPA(key): (Valencia) [nu.kleˈaɾ] === Adjective === nuclear m or f (masculine and feminine plural nuclears) nuclear ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== nucli === Further reading === “nuclear”, in Diccionari de la llengua catalana [Dictionary of the Catalan Language] (in Catalan), second edition, Institute of Catalan Studies [Catalan: Institut d'Estudis Catalans], April 2007 “nuclear”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2026 “nuclear” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua. “nuclear” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962. == Galician == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /nukleˈaɾ/ [nu.kleˈaɾ] Rhymes: -aɾ Hyphenation: nu‧cle‧ar === Adjective === nuclear m or f (plural nucleares) nuclear ==== Derived terms ==== termonuclear ==== Related terms ==== núcleo === Further reading === “nuclear”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026 == Occitan == === Pronunciation === === Adjective === nuclear m (feminine singular nucleara, masculine plural nuclears, feminine plural nuclearas) nuclear == Piedmontese == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /nykleˈar/ === Adjective === nuclear nuclear == Portuguese == === Pronunciation === Hyphenation: nu‧cle‧ar === Adjective === nuclear m or f (plural nucleares) nuclear; central (to a centre around which something is developed or organised) (biology) nuclear (relating to the nucleus of cells) (physics) nuclear (relating to the nucleus of atoms) nuclear (involving atomic energy or weapons) ==== Derived terms ==== termonuclear ==== Related terms ==== núcleo === Further reading === “nuclear”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026 “nuclear”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026 == Romanian == === Etymology === Borrowed from French nucléaire. By surface analysis, nucleu +‎ -ar. === Adjective === nuclear m or n (feminine singular nucleară, masculine plural nucleari, feminine/neuter plural nucleare) nuclear ==== Declension ==== == Spanish == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /nukleˈaɾ/ [nu.kleˈaɾ] Rhymes: -aɾ Syllabification: nu‧cle‧ar === Etymology 1 === From nucleo +‎ -ar, ultimately from Latin nuculeus. ==== Adjective ==== nuclear m or f (masculine and feminine plural nucleares) nuclear ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== === Etymology 2 === ==== Verb ==== nuclear (first-person singular present nucleo, first-person singular preterite nucleé, past participle nucleado) to join up; to unite ===== Conjugation ===== ===== Derived terms ===== === Further reading === “nuclear”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025 Roberts, Edward A. (2014), A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Spanish Language with Families of Words based on Indo-European Roots, Xlibris Corporation, →ISBN === Anagrams === Lucerna