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radioactive
[ rey-dee-oh-ak-tiv ]
adjective
- Physics, Chemistry. of, relating to, exhibiting, or caused by radioactivity:
A pressing issue in post-Soviet Russia is safe long-term storage of radioactive waste, from both military and civilian applications.
- relating to or being a person, topic, or matter that is likely to provoke intense negative reactions or disagreement:
The option of raising taxes to fund these expenditures is a politically radioactive approach that a majority of state policymakers have avoided.
radioactive
/ ˌreɪdɪəʊˈæktɪv /
adjective
- exhibiting, using, or concerned with radioactivity
radioactive
- A descriptive term for a material made up of atoms in which radioactivity occurs.
Derived Forms
- ˌradioˈactively, adverb
Other Words From
- ra·di·o·ac·tive·ly adverb
- non·ra·di·o·ac·tive adjective
- un·ra·di·o·ac·tive adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of radioactive1
Example Sentences
Critics have also expressed concern about radioactive waste nuclear reactors leave behind for future generations.
That is the stark warning from experts who have said the lack of medical radioactive isotopes available in the UK means delays in tests to diagnose cancer.
“What the data show is that they have a very high selectivity for radioactive elements” over essential metals like zinc and calcium.
A man's brain tumour has shrunk by half in a matter of weeks thanks to a new radioactive therapy.
However, critics say nuclear power is not risk-free and produces long-lasting radioactive waste.
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Related Words
More About Radioactive
What does radioactive mean?
Radioactive describes something that exhibits or is caused by radioactivity. If something is radioactive, it emits radiation, which usually takes the form of electromagnetic waves or fast-moving elementary particles, such as protons or neutrons.
While low doses of radiation are usually harmless, being exposed to large amounts of radiation will most likely kill you. For this reason, highly radioactive materials are often considered very dangerous and will only be handled by experts.
Example: The radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants can damage the environment.
Where does radioactive come from?
Radioactive was first recorded around 1895. It combines radio-, which refers to energy transmitted in wave motion (radiant energy), and active, which describes something being in action or motion. If something is radioactive, it is releasing energy that is usually moving very fast.
What makes something radioactive? In chemistry, everything is made up of atoms, and that atom has a nucleus containing protons and neutrons. The nucleus wants the same number of electrons and neutrons. If they aren’t the same, the nucleus will remove electrons or neutrons until there is an equal number within the nucleus. The released protons and neutrons are called radiation, and an element that releases radiation is radioactive.
Radioactive materials can be dangerous because the radiation can damage a living thing’s DNA (which is really bad) or cause mutations in living cells (which is also really bad).
While the effects will be different depending on the specifics of the radioactive material, one of the most common negative effects is cancer, which is caused by mutating cells. For this reason, governments usually will not allow people (or businesses) to own or handle dangerous radioactive materials without a license.
Because of these laws, unless you work in a nuclear power plant or are a nuclear chemist, you most likely won’t have to worry about whether something is radioactive.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to radioactive?
- radioactivity (noun)
- radioactively (adverb)
- nonradioactive (adjective)
- unradioactive (adjective)
What are some words that share a root or word element with radioactive?
- radiotelegraph (commonly shortened to a radio)
- radiology
- hyperactive
- inactive
What are some words that often get used in discussing radioactive?
How is radioactive used in real life?
In everyday life, radioactive is generally used only by scientists and people interested in nuclear science or in related news stories. However, radioactive materials sometimes appear in fiction and pop culture.
Our idea of glaciers may be that they are pure and uncontaminated, but evidence shows that in fact they are significantly affected by pollution – including radioactive materials. On this week's @EGU_CR, @g_baccolo explores this complicated issue: https://t.co/VWNMTSbVRB pic.twitter.com/HildfLcZt8
— EGU (@EuroGeosciences) June 2, 2020
UN Experts Urge Japan Not to Rush Discharge of Radioactive Waterhttps://t.co/wUvMb9bPhe
— The Irrawaddy (Eng) (@IrrawaddyNews) June 10, 2020
Dreamed strange dreams of defending my house against radioactive mutants. They scratched my kitchen cabinets.
— Lagergren (@lagergren) September 10, 2014
Try using radioactive!
True or False?
If something is radioactive, it is stable and will not release any radiation.
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