atomic bomb

atomic bomb
noun
a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239) (Freq. 2)
• Hypernyms: ↑nuclear weapon, ↑atomic weapon, ↑bomb
• Hyponyms: ↑clean bomb, ↑dirty bomb, ↑neutron bomb
• Part Meronyms: ↑plutonium trigger, ↑plutonium pit

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noun

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1. a bomb whose potency is derived from nuclear fission of atoms of fissionable material with the consequent conversion of part of their mass into energy.
2. a bomb whose explosive force comes from a chain reaction based on nuclear fission in U-235 or plutonium.
Also, atom bomb. Also called A-bomb, fission bomb.
[1910-15]

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atom bomb or atomic bomb noun
A nuclear device in which quantities of uranium-235 or plutonium are forced to become critical with the result that their nuclei are bombarded by neutrons and split with explosive transformation of part of their mass into energy
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Main Entry: ↑atom

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atomic bomb variant UK US
Main entry: atom bomb

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atomic bomb,
a bomb in which the splitting of atomic nuclei results in an explosion of tremendous force and heat, accompanied by a blinding light. The destructive force of an atomic bomb is due to nearly instantaneous and uncontrolled successive fissions of uranium or plutonium atoms in a chain reaction, each fission releasing tremendous energy and also neutrons that produce the succeeding fission. Also, A-bomb, atom bomb. See also fission bomb. (Cf. ↑fission bomb)

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noun, pl ⋯ bombs [count]
: a bomb that produces an extremely powerful explosion when atoms are split apart — called also A-bomb, atom bomb

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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