dirty bomb

a device using conventional explosives to send nuclear material through the air

dirty bomb

(Military) informal a bomb made from nuclear waste combined with conventional explosives that is capable of spreading radioactive material over a very wide area

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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Noun

dirty bomb - an atom bomb that leaves considerable radioactive contamination

A-bomb, atom bomb, atomic bomb, fission bomb, plutonium bomb - a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239)

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References in periodicals archive

The amount is too small to make a nuclear bomb, agency spokesman Victor Dricks said, but could be used to make a dirty bomb to spread radioactive contamination.

Idaho school can't find weapons-grade plutonium

TEHRAN (FNA)- ISIL terrorists nearly stumbled on the main ingredient for a 'dirty bomb' when they overran Mosul in 2014, a new report said.

Report: ISIL Militants Stumble on Cobalt as Dirty Bomb Ingredient in Mosul

President Barack Obama urged world leaders Friday to do more to safeguard nuclear facilities to prevent "madmen" from groups like Daesh (ISIS) from getting their hands on a nuclear weapon or a radioactive "dirty bomb."

'Madmen' must not get nuclear material, Obama warns

It may not be an actual atom bomb -- which would call for multimillion dollar investment, expertise and time, "only" a "dirty bomb" (essentially a conventional bomb mixed with radioactive material).

Hizbullah Launches Chemicals & Dirty Bombs Program at Secret Syrian Site

A WAVE of high-value manufacturing jobs could be on its way to Teesside after a tech firm's 'dirty bomb' detector win.

US deal for 'dirty bomb' detector

Kromek has produced the D3S, the world's first fully-approved gamma and neutron detector available in volume shipment, a move which sees the firm step up the battle to counter so-called "dirty bomb" terrorism.

Kromek's PS4m 'dirty bomb' detector deal; TECH

"The material is classed as a Category 2 radioactive source by the IAEA, meaning that if not managed properly it could cause permanent injury to a person in close proximity to it for minutes or hours, and could be fatal to someone exposed for a period of hours to days," reports Reuters." Large quantities of Ir-192 have gone missing before in the United States, Britain and other countries, stoking fears among security officials that it could be used to make a dirty bomb." The article explains that a dirty bomb causes contamination rather than a nuclear explosion.

Radioactive Material Stolen In Iraq Raises Security Concerns

COUNTER-terror officers are desperately hunting for stolen radioactive material amid fears Islamic State could use it to make a lethal dirty bomb.

ISIS dirty bomb fear after theft of radioactive material