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Webster 1913 Edition

Nucleus

Nu′cle-us

,
Noun.
;
pl. E.
Nucleuses
(#)
, L.
Nuclei
(#)
.
[L., a kernel, dim. fr.
nux
,
nucis
, nut. Cf.
Newel
post.]
1.
A kernel; hence, a central mass or point about which matter is gathered, or to which accretion is made; the central or material portion; – used both literally and figuratively.
It must contain within itself a
nucleus
of truth.
I. Taylor.
2.
(Astron.)
The body or the head of a comet.
3.
(Bot.)
(a)
An incipient ovule of soft cellular tissue.
(b)
A whole seed, as contained within the seed coats.
☞ The nucleus is sometimes termed the endoplast or endoblast, and in the protozoa is supposed to be concerned in the female part of the reproductive process. See
Karyokinesis
.
5.
(Zool.)
(a)
The tip, or earliest part, of a univalve or bivalve shell.
(b)
The central part around which additional growths are added, as of an operculum.
(c)
A visceral mass, containing the stomach and other organs, in Tunicata and some mollusks.

Webster 1828 Edition

Nucleus

NU'CLEUS

,
Noun.
[L. a nut.]
1.
Properly, the kernel of a nut; but in usage, any body about which matter is collected.
2.
The body of a comet, called also its head, which appears to be surrounded with light.

Definition 2024

nucleus

nucleus

English

Noun

nucleus ‎(plural nuclei or nucleuses)

  1. The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.
  2. An initial part or version that will receive additions.
    This collection will form the nucleus of a new library.
  3. (chemistry, physics) The massive, positively charged central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons.
  4. (cytology) A large membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells which contains genetic material.
  5. (neuroanatomy) A ganglion, cluster of many neuronal bodies where synapsing occurs.
  6. (linguistics) The central part of a syllable, most commonly a vowel.

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Dutch

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈnykleːjʏs/

Etymology

From Latin nūcleus ‎(“kernel, core”), diminutive of nux ‎(“nut”).

Noun

nucleus m ‎(plural nucleussen or nuclei, diminutive nucleusje n)

  1. nucleus, core

Synonyms

Related terms

Latin

Alternative forms

Etymology

A diminutive of nux ‎(“nut”).

Pronunciation

nŭcleus
  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈnu.kle.us/, [ˈnʊ.kɫe.ʊs]
nūcleus
  • (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈnuː.kle.us/, [ˈnuː.kɫe.ʊs]

Noun

nū̆cleus m ‎(genitive nū̆cleī); second declension

  1. (literally) (small) nut
  2. kernel
  3. (figuratively) core
  4. nucleus

Declension

Second declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative nū̆cleus nū̆cleī
genitive nū̆cleī nū̆cleōrum
dative nū̆cleō nū̆cleīs
accusative nū̆cleum nū̆cleōs
ablative nū̆cleō nū̆cleīs
vocative nū̆clee nū̆cleī

Derived terms

Descendants

References

Etymology

From Latin nucleus ‎(“kernel, core”), a diminutive of nux ‎(“nut”).

Pronunciation

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