nucleus

== English == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Latin nucleus (“kernel, core”). The earliest uses refer to the head of a comet and the kernel of a seed, both recorded in Lexicon Technicum in 1704. The sense in atomic physics was coined by British scientist Michael Faraday in 1844 in a theoretical meaning. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈnjuː.kli.əs/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈnuː.kli.əs/ === Noun === nucleus (plural nuclei or nucleuses) The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled. An initial part or version that will receive additions. (chemistry, physics) The massive, positively charged central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons. Meronyms: proton, neutron, electron (cytology) A large membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells which contains genetic material. (neuroanatomy) A ganglion, cluster of many neuronal bodies where synapsing occurs. (phonetics, phonology) The central part of a syllable, most commonly a vowel. Coordinate terms: onset, coda (beekeeping) A small bee-hive used to create a colony from a larger existing one. ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === Anagrams === nucules, unclues == Dutch == === Etymology === Learned borrowing from Latin nucleus (“kernel, core”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈnykleːjʏs/ === Noun === nucleus m (plural nucleussen or nuclei, diminutive nucleusje n) nucleus, core ==== Synonyms ==== kern ==== Related terms ==== nucleair nucleïne nucleon == Latin == === Alternative forms === nuculeus === Etymology === A diminutive of nux (“nut”), with an irregular change of gender from feminine to masculine. === Pronunciation === (Classical Latin) IPA(key): [ˈnʊ.kɫe.ʊs], [ˈnʊk.ɫe.ʊs] (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): [ˈnuː.kle.us], [ˈnuk.le.us] === Noun === nucleus m (genitive nucleī); second declension (literally) (small) nut kernel (figuratively) core nucleus ==== Declension ==== Second-declension noun. ==== Derived terms ==== nucleāris (New Latin) nucleātus (New Latin) nucleō ==== Descendants ==== === References === “nū̆clĕus (nŭcŭlĕus)”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press “nŭclĕus”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette, page 1,043/1. “nucleus” on page 1,199 of the Oxford Latin Dictionary (1st ed., 1968–82)