control rod

American  

noun

1. a neutron-absorbing material, as boron or cadmium, in the shape of a rod or other configuration, that can be moved into or out of the core of a nuclear reactor to regulate the rate of fission.

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control rod British  

noun

1. one of a number of rods or tubes containing a neutron absorber, such as boron, that can be inserted into or retracted from the core of a nuclear reactor in order to control its rate of reaction

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Etymology

Origin of control rod

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

“I’m meeting all these people that are like, ‘I feel like this control rod could get longer,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 21, 2024

It’s easy to remove the control rod by turning a nut on the tailpiece pipe.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 27, 2023

Palisades is out of nuclear fuel, needs to fix a control rod drive seal issue, and may need a new company to operate it, and a buyer for the power it generates, analysts have said.

From Reuters • Nov. 15, 2022

At every step of the process Fermi calculated the expected neutron emission, and slowly removed a control rod to confirm his expectations.

From Scientific American • Dec. 3, 2017

A fixed control rod attached to the tank over which a tube fastened to the bell slides telescope-fashion is sometimes adopted; but such an arrangement is in many respects less admirable than the former.

From Acetylene, the Principles of Its Generation and Use A Practical Handbook on the Production, Purification, and Subsequent Treatment of Acetylene for the Development of Light, Heat, and Power by Leeds, F. H. (Frank Henley)