atom bomb

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Explanation of "Atom Bomb"

Definition: An "atom bomb" is a type of weapon that can cause a massive explosion by using a process called nuclear fission. This means that it splits the nuclei (the center part) of heavy elements, like uranium-235 or plutonium-239, to release a lot of energy.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Context: The term is often used in discussions about war, military technology, and history.

Example Sentence:

"The city was devastated when the atom bomb was dropped during the war."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you might hear the term "nuclear weapon" used interchangeably with "atom bomb," although "nuclear weapon" is a broader term that can include other types of nuclear explosives.

Word Variants:

• Nuclear bomb: A general term for bombs that use nuclear reactions, which includes the atom bomb.
• Hydrogen bomb: Another type of nuclear weapon that uses fusion (combining nuclei) instead of fission.

Different Meanings:

While "atom bomb" specifically refers to a weapon, in scientific contexts, "atom" refers to the basic unit of matter, and "bomb" can refer to any explosive device.

Synonyms:

• Nuclear bomb
• A-bomb (informal)
• Fission bomb

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to "atom bomb," but you might encounter phrases like: - "Drop the bomb" - This can mean to reveal shocking news, though it doesn't literally refer to an atomic bomb.

Summary:

The "atom bomb" is a powerful weapon that releases energy by splitting heavy atomic nuclei. It is primarily discussed in the context of military technology and historical events.

Academic

Noun

1. a nuclear weapon in which enormous energy is released by nuclear fission (splitting the nuclei of a heavy element like uranium 235 or plutonium 239)

Synonyms

• atomic bomb
• A-bomb
• fission bomb
• plutonium bomb