First Known Use: 1938
Dictionary
thermonuclear
adjective ther·mo·nu·cle·ar \ˌthər-mō-ˈnü-klē-ər, -ˈnyü-, ÷-ˈn(y)ü-kyə-lər\
: of or relating to the changes in the nucleus of atoms that happen at extremely high temperatures
Full Definition of THERMONUCLEAR
1
: of, relating to, or employing transformations in the nuclei of atoms of low atomic weight (as hydrogen) that require a very high temperature for their inception (as in the hydrogen bomb or in the sun) <thermonuclear reaction> <thermonuclear weapon>
2
: of, utilizing, or relating to a thermonuclear bomb <thermonuclear war> <a thermonuclear attack>
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Origin of THERMONUCLEAR
International Scientific Vocabulary
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