Nuclear literally means "nutty" — from Latin nucleus, "little nut." The atomic nucleus was named after the kernel hidden inside a nutshell.
Relating to the nucleus of an atom, or to the energy released by nuclear fission or fusion. Also relating to nuclear weapons or nuclear power.
From Latin nucleus ('kernel, core, inner part'), diminutive of nux ('nut'), with the English adjective suffix -ar. The word was first used in biology (cell nucleus) before being adopted by physics for the atomic nucleus. Key roots: nux (Latin: "nut"), nucleus (Latin: "kernel, little nut, core").
The word "nuclear" literally means "relating to a little nut" — from Latin nucleus, the diminutive of nux (nut). When Rutherford discovered the atomic nucleus in 1911, he named it after the kernel of a nut because it was the tiny, dense core hidden inside the atom. The mispronunciation "nucular" (/ˈnjuːkjʊlər/) became infamous when used by several U.S. presidents, including Eisenhower, Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush. Linguists call