nuclear fuel

[ noo-klee-er fyoo-uhl, nyoo- ]

noun

1. Physics. fissile or fertile material that undergoes fission in a nuclear reactor.
2. any light element, as hydrogen or helium, that undergoes fusion and gives off energy within the interior of stars.

nuclear fuel

noun

1. a fuel that provides nuclear energy, used in nuclear power stations, nuclear submarines, etc

Pronunciation Note

See nuclear ( def ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuclear fuel¹

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The country is also referred to as a “tier-one nuclear nation”, he said, due to its capability to produce nuclear fuel from the mining to the manufacturing stage.

From BBC

His legislative actions in Congress have included supporting zero-emission vehicles, removal of spent nuclear fuel from the closed San Onofre plant and other sites near large populations, and water quality protections.

From Los Angeles Times

It is unclear whether the submarine was carrying nuclear fuel at the time.

From BBC

They manoeuvre joysticks on what look like large retro game-controllers, as the arms pull used nuclear fuel rods – still glowing hot and highly radioactive - from the heavy metal containers in which they arrived.

From BBC

And those are adding 2,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel each year to the 88,000 metric tons of waste already being stored at 79 sites across 35 states.

From Salon