reactor

[ ree-ak-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that reacts or undergoes reaction.
2. Electricity. a device whose primary purpose is to introduce reactance into a circuit.
3. Immunology, Veterinary Medicine. a patient or animal that reacts positively towards a foreign material.
4. Physics. nuclear reactor ( def ).
5. Chemistry. (especially in industry) a large container, as a vat, for processes in which the substances involved undergo a chemical reaction.

reactor

/ rɪˈæktə /

noun

1. chem a substance, such as a reagent, that undergoes a reaction
2. short for nuclear reactor
3. a vessel, esp one in industrial use, in which a chemical reaction takes place
4. a coil of low resistance and high inductance that introduces reactance into a circuit
5. med a person sensitive to a particular drug or agent

Other Words From

• nonre·actor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reactor¹

First recorded in 1885–90; 1940–45 reactor fordef 4; react + -or ²

Example Sentences

We would be better served if they were educators and explainers, rather than reactors to daily news.

From Salon

Canada’s role in supplying the commodity is made more urgent by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly for the US, which had relied heavily on Russian-supplied enriched uranium to fire up its commercial nuclear reactors.

From BBC

But there have been no fresh supplies available to be shipped to the UK after a reactor in the Netherlands was forced to halt production for the whole of last month.

From BBC

Despite the risk of nuclear waste, the Biden administration has also championed nuclear power as a carbon-free solution and sought to incentivize the construction of new reactors through subsidies and loans.

From Salon

Amazon is partnering with Dominion Energy Virginia, Energy Northwest and Talen Energy to explore new efforts to advance nuclear energy, including the development of smaller and faster nuclear reactors.

From Los Angeles Times