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Added 9 October 2026

nuclear

/ˈn(j)u.kli.ɚ/ adjective

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about nuclear at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

(weapons) deriving destructive energy from the release of atomic energy.
nuclear war
Of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of an atom.
nuclear physics
Of or relating to or constituting the nucleus of a cell.
nuclear membrane

Origin

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.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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