thermonuclear
/ˌθɜːməʊˈnjuːkliə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [θˌɚmonˈukliɚ] /ˌθɜːrməʊˈnuːkliər/ (ame, ipa) · [θˌɚmonˈukliɚ] /ˌthər-mō-ˈnü-klē-ər How to pronounce thermonuclear (audio) -ˈnyü- nonstandard -ˈn(y)ü-kyə-lər How to pronounce thermonuclear (audio)/ (ame, mw)
thermonuclear — adjective
- thermonuclearpositive
- more thermonuclearcomparative
- most thermonuclearsuperlative
1. describes the extremely high-temperature fusion of atomic nuclei — especially hy
describes the extremely high-temperature fusion of atomic nuclei — especially hydrogen atoms — that powers the sun and stars, or the weapons or power systems that use this kind of energy
Dr. Hao Chen believes thermonuclear fusion could become a practical energy source within the next thirty years.
collocation: thermonuclear fusion + practical energy source
The treaty required both nations to reduce their stockpiles of thermonuclear weapons.
collocation: thermonuclear weapons + stockpiles
Renata explained in her astrophysics lecture how thermonuclear reactions inside stars produce heavy elements.
During the Cold War, Théo's grandfather served on a submarine carrying thermonuclear missiles.
Mira wrote her final-year paper on the challenges of containing thermonuclear fusion inside a reactor.
- fusion-based
less common; used mainly in technical writing about energy systems
- hydrogen
only in the compound 'hydrogen bomb', which is a type of thermonuclear weapon; not a general synonym
- fission-based
describes nuclear reactions that split heavy atoms rather than fusing light ones
文法句型
thermonuclear + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used attributively (placed before a noun). This is a technical term common in news about nuclear arms control, astrophysics, and fusion-energy research. The word refers specifically to fusion reactions — not to the fission reactions used in ordinary nuclear power plants or atomic bombs.