Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Spontaneous emission of radiation, either directly from unstable atomic nuclei or as a consequence of a nuclear reaction.
- noun The radiation, including alpha particles, nucleons, electrons, and gamma rays, emitted by a radioactive substance.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The property possessed by certain substances of spontaneously emitting obscure rays of a nature distinct from the ether-waves of ordinary radiation.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun (Physics) a form of instability which is a property of the atomic nuclei of certain isotopes, which causes a spontaneous change in the structure of the nucleus, accompanied by emission of energetic radiation. The radiation emitted is usually sufficient to cause ionization in matter through which it passes, and is therefore called
ionizing radiation . The radiation emitted by most radioactive substances is one of three types:alpha rays ,beta rays , orgamma rays . Some chemical elements have no stable isotopes, and these are referred to as radioactive elements, and the element itself is said to possessradioactivity .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun
Spontaneous emission of ionizingradiation as aconsequence of anuclear reaction , or directly from thebreakdown of anunstable nucleus . - noun The radiation so emitted; including
gamma rays ,alpha particles ,neutrons ,electrons ,positrons , etc.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Since Marie Curie coined the word "radioactivity" in 1898, we've struggled with nuclear-weapons proliferation, we've debated the role of radiation in medical treatment, and we've considered nuclear energy as an alternative energy source to counter climate change.
Jesse Kornbluth: The Love Story of Marie & Pierre Curie Is Now a Beautiful Book (With A Spooky, Challenging Ending) Jesse Kornbluth 2011
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Especially appealing are the ones inspired by Madame Curie, two-time Nobel prize winner who discovered radium and polonium and coined the term "radioactivity."
Edward Goldman: Hollywood: Art and Oscars Edward Goldman 2011
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Especially appealing are the ones inspired by Madame Curie, two-time Nobel prize winner who discovered radium and polonium and coined the term "radioactivity."
Edward Goldman: Hollywood: Art and Oscars Edward Goldman 2011
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Since Marie Curie coined the word "radioactivity" in 1898, we've struggled with nuclear-weapons proliferation, we've debated the role of radiation in medical treatment, and we've considered nuclear energy as an alternative energy source to counter climate change.
Jesse Kornbluth: The Love Story of Marie & Pierre Curie Is Now a Beautiful Book (With A Spooky, Challenging Ending) Jesse Kornbluth 2011
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She may have had to exist in a state of denial to accomplish what she did: she opened up the field of radiation, coining the word radioactivity; she not only found two new elements, she found a new way to find them, using the tools of physics.
Alan Alda: In Love With Marie Alan Alda 2011
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Especially appealing are the ones inspired by Madame Curie, two-time Nobel prize winner who discovered radium and polonium and coined the term "radioactivity."
Edward Goldman: Hollywood: Art and Oscars Edward Goldman 2011
-
Since Marie Curie coined the word "radioactivity" in 1898, we've struggled with nuclear-weapons proliferation, we've debated the role of radiation in medical treatment, and we've considered nuclear energy as an alternative energy source to counter climate change.
Jesse Kornbluth: 'Radioactive' Is A National Book Award Finalist. It's So Thrilling That It Literally Glows In The Dark. Jesse Kornbluth 2011
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Especially appealing are the ones inspired by Madame Curie, two-time Nobel prize winner who discovered radium and polonium and coined the term "radioactivity."
Edward Goldman: Hollywood: Art and Oscars Edward Goldman 2011
-
She may have had to exist in a state of denial to accomplish what she did: she opened up the field of radiation, coining the word radioactivity; she not only found two new elements, she found a new way to find them, using the tools of physics.
Alan Alda: In Love With Marie Alan Alda 2011
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During her years of work, Curie coined the term radioactivity, and named Polonium.
Archive 2010-03-01 Jennica 2010
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