manhattan project
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The Manhattan Project involved a massive team of scientists working in secret laboratories to develop new technology.
Definition
- Proper noun:
- A secret U.S. research and development project during World War II: The Manhattan Project was the code name for the American-led effort to develop the first atomic weapons.
- A former U.S. government agency: It also refers to the specific organization and executive agency that was created to manage this enormous scientific, industrial, and military undertaking.
Usage and Examples
- Proper noun:
- The success of the Manhattan Project led to the creation of the first nuclear weapons.
- Many famous scientists, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, worked on the Manhattan Project.
- The facilities for the Manhattan Project were located in several secret sites across the United States.
Advanced Usage and Context
- The term is almost always capitalized as it is a proper noun referring to a specific historical project.
- It is frequently used in historical, political, and scientific discussions about nuclear weapons, World War II, and the dawn of the atomic age.
- Metaphorical use: Sometimes used metaphorically to describe any large-scale, secret, and urgent technological or scientific endeavor.
- The CEO described the new product development as the company's Manhattan Project.
Variants and Related Words
- Atomic bomb: The primary weapon developed by the project.
- Nuclear fission: The key scientific principle harnessed for the bomb's energy.
- Los Alamos: A primary secret laboratory site for the project.
Synonyms
- Atomic bomb project
- U.S. nuclear weapons program (WWII)
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "The Manhattan Project era": Referring to the period of WWII during which this project was active.
- Security was extremely tight during the Manhattan Project era.
- "A Manhattan Project-style effort": Describing a massive, concentrated, and secretive project.
- Solving climate change will require a Manhattan Project-style effort from the global community.
The Manhattan Project involved a massive team of scientists working in secret laboratories to develop new technology.
Noun
- code name for the secret United States project set up in 1942 to develop atomic bombs for use in World War II
- a former United States executive agency that was responsible for developing atomic bombs during World War II