English · Science & Technology
nuclear reactor
/ˈnjuː.kli.ə riˈæk.tə/
[/ˈnjuː.kli.ə riˈæk.tə/]
atomic power device
Advancednoun
Definition
A machine that produces energy by splitting atoms in a controlled nuclear reaction.
Example
The nuclear reactor supplies electricity to millions of homes without burning any coal or gas.
The nuclear reactor supplies electricity to millions of homes without burning any coal or gas.
Etymology
Combining 'nuclear' (from Latin 'nucleus', kernel) and 'reactor' (from 'react'), from mid-20th-century physics.
How & Where It’s Used
Used in power stations and, in different forms, in research and ships.