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Meaning & use

nucleus

noun·Academictechnical

Last updated

UK/ˈnjuːkliəs/
US/ˈnuːkliəs/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablephysics

    The tiny central part of an atom, made of protons and neutrons.

    Grammar: Plural nuclei: the nuclei of atoms.

    Patterns

    • the nucleus of an atom

    Protons and neutrons make up the nucleus of an atom.

    Energy is released when a nucleus splits.

    Electrons orbit the nucleus.

  2. nouncountablebiology

    The control center of a living cell that holds its genetic material.

    Grammar: Plural nuclei: cells with and without nuclei.

    Patterns

    • the nucleus of a cell

    The DNA is stored in the nucleus of the cell.

    Under the microscope, we could see each nucleus clearly.

    Red blood cells have no nucleus.

  3. nouncountablefigurative

    The central or most important part of a group or thing, from which it grows.

    Grammar: Usually with an or the and followed by of: a nucleus of volunteers.

    Patterns

    • the nucleus of something
    • form the nucleus of something

    Five friends formed the nucleus of the new club.

    A small group of doctors was the nucleus of the hospital.

    The old harbor is the nucleus of the town.

Word forms

pluralnuclei
plural (alternative)nucleuses

Common combinations

atomic nucleus
The atomic nucleus is incredibly small.
cell nucleus
The cell nucleus controls growth.
nucleus of a group
A few members formed the nucleus of the group.
form the nucleus
These ideas formed the nucleus of her theory.
split the nucleus
Scientists learned how to split the nucleus.

Synonyms and how they differ

core
Core is a general word for the central part and suits objects and ideas, not just groups.
center
Center is the plain word for the middle, while nucleus implies the part from which something grows.
heart
Heart is an informal word for the most important part of an issue or place.
kernel
Kernel suggests a small, essential central idea, as in a kernel of truth.

Opposites

peripheryedge

Word family

nuclear adjective
relating to the nucleus of an atom or atomic energy
nuclei noun
the plural of nucleus
nucleate verb
to form a nucleus, a technical word
nucleic adjective
relating to the nucleus, as in nucleic acid

Commonly confused: nucleus or nuclear?

nucleus vs nuclear

Nuclear is an adjective meaning relating to atomic energy or the nucleus, whereas nucleus is the noun for the central part itself.

Practice

Two engineers and a designer formed the ______ of what later became a large software company.

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