Meaning & use
fission
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The splitting of an atomic nucleus into smaller parts, releasing a large amount of energy.
See it in a sentence
Nuclear power plants generate electricity through controlled fission.
The bomb's destructive power came from rapid, uncontrolled fission.
A note on using this word
Fission (splitting atoms apart) is the opposite process of fusion (joining atoms together); both release energy but through very different reactions.
Words with a similar meaning
splitting
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Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
In biology, a form of asexual reproduction in which an organism splits into two or more separate parts.
Some single-celled organisms reproduce through simple fission.
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