Akademik

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) (Freq. 2)

see atom 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, atom bomb. Also called A-bomb, fission bomb.

[1910-15]

atom bomb or atomic bomb noun

A nuclear device in which quantities of uranium-235 or plutonium are forced to become critical with the result that their nuclei are bombarded by neutrons and split with explosive transformation of part of their mass into energy

Main Entry: ↑atom

atomic bomb variant UK US

Main entry: atom bomb

atomic bomb,

a bomb in which the splitting of atomic nuclei results in an explosion of tremendous force and heat, accompanied by a blinding light. The destructive force of an atomic bomb is due to nearly instantaneous and uncontrolled successive fissions of uranium or plutonium atoms in a chain reaction, each fission releasing tremendous energy and also neutrons that produce the succeeding fission. Also, A-bomb, atom bomb. See also fission bomb. (Cf. ↑fission bomb)

noun, pl ⋯ bombs [count]

: a bomb that produces an extremely powerful explosion when atoms are split apart — called also A-bomb, atom bomb