reactor

noun

re·​ac·​tor rē-ˈak-tər 

1

: one that reacts

2

: a device (such as a coil, winding, or conductor of small resistance) used to introduce reactance into an alternating-current circuit

3

a

: a vat for an industrial chemical reaction

b

: a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)

Examples of reactor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The nuclear industry has a saying: France has two kinds of nuclear reactors and a hundred kinds of cheese, while the U.S. has two kinds of cheese but about a hundred kinds of reactors. —Anna Broughel, Forbes, 29 Dec. 2024

While other energy industries are seeing partisan fights and threats to their subsidies, nuclear is seeing bipartisan legislation get floor votes — and talk of even more money to build out reactors. —Daniel Moore, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024

Oklo is developing reactors that are much smaller than those in the current U.S. fleet. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024

The study builds off other recent research showing how small thermoelectric devices can essentially turn the human body into a mini geo-thermal reactor to power wearbels. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reactor

• atomic reactor
• hyper-reactor
• nuclear reactor

Kids Definition

reactor

noun

re·​ac·​tor rē-ˈak-tər 

1

: one that reacts

2

: a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)

Medical Definition

reactor

noun

re·​ac·​tor rē-ˈak-tər 

1

: one that reacts: as

a

: a chemical reagent

b

: an individual reacting to a stimulus

c

: an individual reacting positively to a foreign substance (as in a test for disease)

reactors to tuberculin

2

a

: a piece of equipment in which a chemical reaction and especially an industrial chemical reaction is carried out

b

: a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)