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
Recent Examples on the Web
As for next steps, the team is hoping to model the exact position the sun held in the sky about seven million years ago, a time when other research has spotted another peak in the plutonium and iron isotopes associated with interstellar clouds.
—
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2024
The uranium atoms that are produced by the decay process also knock plutonium atoms out of their place in the structure, similarly changing the pit’s properties.
—Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
The plant performs research and development in high explosives and serves as an interim storage site for plutonium pits removed from dismantled weapons, according to the Department of Energy.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Without the sheltering benefit of solar wind, interstellar iron and plutonium would have battered the Earth.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for plutonium 
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2024
The uranium atoms that are produced by the decay process also knock plutonium atoms out of their place in the structure, similarly changing the pit’s properties.
—Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
The plant performs research and development in high explosives and serves as an interim storage site for plutonium pits removed from dismantled weapons, according to the Department of Energy.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 29 Feb. 2024
Without the sheltering benefit of solar wind, interstellar iron and plutonium would have battered the Earth.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for plutonium
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“Plutonium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plutonium. Accessed 4 Jul. 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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