nuclear weapon

nuclear weapon

n.

A device, such as a bomb or warhead, whose great explosive power derives from the release of nuclear energy.

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nuclear weapon

A weapon whose destructive power comes from nuclear energy; an atomic bomb or a hydrogen bomb.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

nuclear weapon - a weapon of mass destruction whose explosive power derives from a nuclear reaction atomic weapon 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) atomic warhead, nuclear warhead, nuke, thermonuclear warhead - the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb fusion bomb, H-bomb, hydrogen bomb, thermonuclear bomb - a nuclear weapon that releases atomic energy by union of light (hydrogen) nuclei at high temperatures to form helium megaton bomb - a nuclear weapon with an explosive power equivalent to one million tons of TNT W.M.D., weapon of mass destruction, WMD - a weapon that kills or injures civilian as well as military personnel (nuclear and chemical and biological weapons)

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A complete assembly (i.e., implosion type, gun type, or thermonuclear type), in its intended ultimate configuration which, upon completion of the prescribed arming, fusing, and firing sequence, is capable of producing the intended nuclear reaction and release of energy.