The nucleus of an atom or cell is the central part of it.
Neutrons and protons are bound together in the nucleus of an atom. [+ of]
2. countable noun
Thenucleusof a group of people or things is the small number of members which form the most important part of the group.
A small group of shareholders formed the nucleus of a new management team. [+ of]
Synonyms: centre, heart, focus, basis More Synonyms of nucleus
nucleus in British English
(ˈnjuːklɪəs)
nounWord forms: plural-clei (-klɪˌaɪ) or rare -cleuses
1.
a central or fundamental part or thing around which others are grouped; core
2.
a centre of growth or development; basis; kernel
the nucleus of an idea
3. biology
(in the cells of eukaryotes) a large compartment, bounded by a double membrane, that contains the chromosomes and associated molecules and controls the characteristics and growth of the cell
4. anatomy
any of various groups of nerve cells in the central nervous system
5. astronomy
the central portion in the head of a comet, consisting of small solid particles of ice and frozen gases, which vaporize on approaching the sun to form the coma and tail
6. physics
the positively charged dense region at the centre of an atom, composed of protons and neutrons, about which electrons orbit
7. chemistry
a fundamental group of atoms in a molecule serving as the base structure for related compounds and remaining unchanged during most chemical reactions
the benzene nucleus
8. botany
a.
the central point of a starch granule
b. a rare name for nucellus
9. phonetics
the most sonorous part of a syllable, usually consisting of a vowel or frictionless continuant
10. logic
the largest individual that is a mereological part of every member of a given class
Word origin
C18: from Latin: kernel, from nux nut
nucleus in American English
(ˈnukliəs; ˈnjukliəs)
nounWord forms: pluralˈnucleˌi (ˈnukliˌaɪ; ˈnjukliˌaɪ) or ˈnucleuses
1.
a thing or part forming the center around which other things or parts are grouped or collected; core
2.
anything serving as a center of growth or development
the nucleus of a library
3. Anatomy
a group of nerve cells in the brain or spinal column
4. Astronomy
the bright central part of the head of a comet
5. Biology
the central, usually spherical or oval mass of protoplasm present in most plant and animal cells, containing most of the hereditary material and necessary to such functions as growth, reproduction, etc.
6. Botany
the central point in a starch grain
7. Chemistry and Physics
the central part of an atom, the fundamental particles of which are the proton andneutron, except for hydrogen, which is usually composed of one proton only: it carries a positive charge and constitutes almost all of the mass of the atom
8. Phonetics
the most sonorous portion of a syllable, usually a vowel
9. Organic Chemistry
a fundamental, stable arrangement of atoms that may occur in many compounds by atomic substitution without structural change, as the benzene ring
Word origin
ModL < L, a nut, kernel, for nuculeus, dim. < nux (gen. nucis), nut
nucleus in American English
(ˈnuːkliəs, ˈnjuː-)
nounWord forms: plural-clei (-kliˌai) or -cleuses
1.
a central part about which other parts are grouped or gathered; core
A few faithful friends formed the nucleus of the club
2. Biology
a specialized, usually spherical mass of protoplasm encased in a double membrane, and found in most living eukaryotic cells, directing their growth, metabolism, and reproduction, and functioning in the transmission of genic characters
3. Physics
the positively charged mass within an atom, composed of neutrons and protons, andpossessing most of the mass but occupying only a small fraction of the volume of the atom
4. Anatomy
a mass of nerve cells in the brain or spinal cord in which nerve fibers form connections
5. Also called: condensation nucleus Meteorology
a particle upon which condensation of water vapor occurs to form water drops or ice crystals
6. Chemistry
a fundamental arrangement of atoms, as the benzene ring, that may occur in many compoundsby substitution of atoms without a change in structure
7. Astronomy
the condensed portion of the head of a comet
8. Phonetics
a.
the central, most prominent segment in a syllable, consisting of a vowel, diphthong, or vowellike consonant, as the a- sound in cat or the l- sound in bottled; peak
b.
the most prominent syllable in an utterance or stress group; tonic syllable
Word origin
[1695–1705; ‹ L: kernel, syncopated var. of nuculeus, equiv. to nucu(la) little nut (nuc-, s. of nux nut + -ula-ule) + -leus n. suffix]
Examples of 'nucleus' in a sentence
nucleus
Some would call these people the core group or the nucleus of the cell.
Christianity Today (2000)
It enters the nucleus of the cell and induces cell suicide.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
An atomic nucleus is smaller than the Earth by twenty powers of ten.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
Third, the nucleus of an atom.
Dyson, Freeman Infinite in All Directions (1989)
The hulking Americans form the nucleus of the eight rowers who constitute the mutiny.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Whereas before people didn't know where anyone was supposed to be except for a small nucleus of people.
Shawn Levy READY, STEADY, GO!: Swinging London and the Invention of Cool (2002)
They form an unmatched nucleus of experience and knowledge of the sport in Britain and are eager to work together for the common good.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Experiments with X rays and uranium produced the knowledge of electrons and the nucleus of the atom.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
I think our club could form the nucleus of an England squad.
The Sun (2011)
Similarly Bordeaux formed a nucleus for the south-west.
Ogden, Philip E & White, Paul E (eds.) Migrants in Modern France: Population Mobility in the Later Nineteenth and TwentiethCenturies (1989)
The mitochondria are small bodies that reside outside the cell nucleus, and are the means by which the cell burns biological fuel to produce energy.
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
And, beyond that, who are the players that will form the nucleus of the next team?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Remember, the uranium atoms like all atoms are nearly all empty space: each consists of a central nucleus surrounded by a distant cloud of electrons.
Fisher, David E. Fire and Ice - the Greenhouse Effect, Ozone Depletion, and Nuclear Winter (1990)
This is contained outside the nucleus of each cell, in slender structures known as the mitochondria, the powerhouses of each cell which convert nutrients into energy.
Deborah Cadbury THE LOST KING OF FRANCE: Revolution, Revenge and the Search for Louis XVII (2002)
In other languages
nucleus
British English: nucleus NOUN
The nucleus of an atom or cell is the central part of it.
Neutrons and protons are bound together in the nucleus of an atom.
American English: nucleus
Brazilian Portuguese: núcleo
Chinese: > 核原子或细胞
European Spanish: núcleo
French: noyau
German: Kern
Italian: nucleo
Japanese: 原子核
Korean: 핵
European Portuguese: núcleo
Latin American Spanish: núcleo
Chinese translation of 'nucleus'
nucleus
(ˈnjuːklɪəs)
Word forms:plnuclei (ˈnjuːklɪiː)
n(c)
[of atom, cell]核 (hé)
[of group]核心人物 (héxīn rénwù) (位, wèi)
(noun)
Definition
a centre of growth or development
The movement could become the nucleus of a new political party.
Synonyms
centre
A large wooden table dominates the centre of the room.
heart
The heart of the problem is supply and demand.
focus
The children are the focus of her life.
basis
core
He has the ability to get straight to the core of a problem.
pivot
A large group of watercolours forms the pivot of the exhibition.
kernel
the kernel of his message
nub
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
Seecentre
Nearby words of
nucleus
nuance
nub
nubile
nucleus
nude
nudge
nudity
Synonyms of 'nucleus'
nucleus
Explore 'nucleus' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of kernel
Definition
the central or essential part of something
the kernel of his message
Synonyms
essence,
core,
substance,
gist,
grain,
marrow,
germ,
nub,
pith,
seed
in the sense of nub
Definition
the point or gist
That, I think, is the nub of the problem.
Synonyms
gist,
point,
heart,
core,
essence,
nucleus,
kernel,
crux,
pith
in the sense of pivot
Definition
the central person or thing necessary for progress or success
A large group of watercolours forms the pivot of the exhibition.