nuke

[ nook, nyook ]

noun

1. a nuclear or thermonuclear weapon.
2. a nuclear power plant or nuclear reactor.
3. nuclear energy:

   to convert from coal to nuke.

adjective

1. of or relating to a nuclear or thermonuclear weapon or to a nuclear plant.

verb (used with object)

, nuked, nuk·ing.

1. to attack, defeat, or destroy with or as if with nuclear weapons.
2. Slang. to cook or bake in a microwave oven.

nuke

/ njuːk /

verb

1. to attack or destroy with nuclear weapons

noun

1. a nuclear bomb
2. a military strike with nuclear weapons
3. nuclear power
4. a nuclear power plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of nuke¹

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening and respelling

Example Sentences

Irresponsible threats about using “tactical” nukes in Ukraine have come from Moscow.

From Salon

If the space industry blasts, mines and – following a suggestion from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk – nukes planetary bodies, scientists could lose access to this knowledge.

From Salon

“It’s really ironic that this piece probably got more attention than anything we normally published,” Lopez added, “even after they nuked the website.”

From Seattle Times

The United Nations warned Monday of growing concern about recent increasing talk about nuclear weapons by various parties when asked about Russia’s planned drills simulating the use of tactical nukes.

From Seattle Times

"If I'm a Russian military planner, I'm already going to hit it. If you watch Russian television, they talk about the UK a lot; they talk about nuking the UK a lot."

From BBC