atomic bomb

An explosive weapon of great destructive power derived from the rapid release of energy in the fission of heavy atomic nuclei, especially of uranium-235 or plutonium-239. Also called A-bomb, atom bomb, fission bomb.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

atomic bomb

atom bomb

1. (Atomic Physics) a type of bomb in which the energy is provided by nuclear fission. Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are the isotopes most commonly used in atomic bombs. Also called: A-bomb or fission bomb Compare fusion bomb

2. (Firearms, Gunnery, Ordnance & Artillery) a type of bomb in which the energy is provided by nuclear fission. Uranium-235 and plutonium-239 are the isotopes most commonly used in atomic bombs. Also called: A-bomb or fission bomb Compare fusion bomb

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

atom′ic bomb′

1. a bomb whose potency is derived from nuclear fission of atoms of fissionable material with the consequent conversion of part of their mass into energy.

2. a bomb whose explosive force comes from a chain reaction based on nuclear fission in U-235 or plutonium.

Also called A-bomb, atom bomb.

[1910–15]

atomic bomb

A very destructive bomb that derives its explosive power from the fission of atomic nuclei, usually plutonium or uranium 235 (an isotope of uranium). Also called atom bomb.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

atomic 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)

A-bomb, atom bomb, fission bomb, plutonium bomb

bomb - an explosive device fused to explode under specific conditions

clean bomb - an atom bomb leaving little or no radioactive contamination

dirty bomb - an atom bomb that leaves considerable radioactive contamination

neutron bomb - atom bomb that produces lethal neutrons with less blast

atomic weapon, nuclear weapon - a weapon of mass destruction whose explosive power derives from a nuclear reaction

plutonium pit, plutonium trigger - a steel or beryllium sphere containing plutonium 239 that triggers nuclear fission when compressed by explosives

Translations

atomová bomba

atombombe

Atombombe

ατομική βόμβα