nuclear energy

[ noo-klee-er en-er-jee, nyoo- ]

noun

1. energy released by reactions within atomic nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion.

nuclear energy

noun

1. energy released during a nuclear reaction as a result of fission or fusion Also calledatomic energy

nuclear energy

1. The energy released by the nucleus of an atom as the result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or radioactive decay. The amount of energy released by the nuclear fission of a given mass of uranium is about 2,500,000 times greater than that released by the combustion of an equal mass of carbon. And the amount of energy released by the nuclear fusion of a given mass of deuterium is about 400 times greater that that released by the nuclear fission of an equal mass of uranium.
2. Also called atomic energy
3. Electricity generated by a nuclear reactor.

nuclear energy

1. Energy obtained from nuclear reactions .

Pronunciation Note

See nuclear ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclear energy¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Increased investment in nuclear energy would be a big win for operators like Exelon Corporation and uranium miners.

From Time

France has nuclear energy and has benefited from it, but also has the problems now of aging nuclear power stations and the cost to the economy of getting rid of those.

From Freakonomics

It has a pair of nuclear energy levels that are close together.

From Science News For Students

Meeting this target will require rapidly converting as many fossil fuel-powered activities to electricity as possible, and then generating that electricity from low-carbon and carbon-free sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, and nuclear energy.

From Quartz

Nuclear clocks would be based on jumps between those nuclear energy levels, rather than those of electrons.

From Science News

So the show has gone on a comic war against nuclear energy, Brazilian society, and American presidents.

From The Daily Beast

But she also insists Japanese people want the country weaned off nuclear energy.

From The Daily Beast

We want peace, security, and economic welfare, and we cannot forgo all of our other rights for nuclear energy.

From The Daily Beast

A colony on the moon could use this as a source of oxygen, with power provided by nuclear energy or solar panels.

From The Daily Beast

"You know, these people are civilized, if you don't limit the term to contragravity and nuclear energy," Harkaman said.

From Project Gutenberg

The Company doesn't want the natives here learning of the possibility of using nuclear energy for destructive purposes.

From Project Gutenberg

But now that the Europo-Americans have begun to release nuclear energy, fissionables have become more important than oil.

From Project Gutenberg

Romania must rely on foreign technical assistance for its nuclear energy program.

From Project Gutenberg

The best preparation for a career in nuclear energy begins with elementary arithmetic.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• atomic energy
• nuclear power