plutonium
noun
plu·to·ni·um
plü-ˈtō-nē-əm 
: a radioactive metallic element similar chemically to uranium that is formed as the isotope 239 by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende, that undergoes slow disintegration with the emission of an alpha particle to form uranium 235, and that is fissionable with slow neutrons to yield atomic energy see Chemical Elements Table
Examples of plutonium in a Sentence
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Rocky Flats, which housed facilities to produce nuclear weapons components from 1952 through the early 1990s, was contaminated by plutonium and other nuclear materials.
—
Gary Stoller, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
For instance, in partnership with the U.S. Energy Department, the lab looks at how robots can detect radiation at plutonium facilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American-Statesman, 18 Mar. 2024
North Korea conducted only one missile test and reprocessed no plutonium.
—Frank Aum, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2022
Another major story of Burnham’s concerned Karen Silkwood, an Oklahoma nuclear facility worker, whose suspicious death after being contaminated by plutonium became the subject of the 1983 Meryl Streep film Silkwood.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2024
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Gary Stoller, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
For instance, in partnership with the U.S. Energy Department, the lab looks at how robots can detect radiation at plutonium facilities at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American-Statesman, 18 Mar. 2024
North Korea conducted only one missile test and reprocessed no plutonium.
—Frank Aum, Foreign Affairs, 22 Dec. 2022
Another major story of Burnham’s concerned Karen Silkwood, an Oklahoma nuclear facility worker, whose suspicious death after being contaminated by plutonium became the subject of the 1983 Meryl Streep film Silkwood.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for plutonium
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Cite this Entry
“Plutonium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plutonium. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
plutonium
noun
plu·to·ni·um
plü-ˈtō-nē-əm
: a radioactive metallic element that is formed by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende and that produces atomic energy by fission see element
Medical Definition
plutonium
noun
plu·to·ni·um
plü-ˈtō-nē-əm
: a radioactive metallic element similar chemically to uranium that is formed as the isotope 239 by decay of neptunium and found in minute quantities in pitchblende, that undergoes slow disintegration with the emission of an alpha particle to form uranium 235, and that is fissionable with slow neutrons to yield atomic energy
—symbol Pu
see Chemical Elements Table
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