pile
2
8.4
- noun
- /paɪl/
- Archaic
:
pila atómica
- One can easily compare these with the first American reactor design, Chicago Pile-1.
- atomic pile
Examples
-
Fermi achieved the first chain reaction in the Chicago pile on 2 December 1942.
Academic text (1996) -
In fact, his invention became known as the pile.
-
No, it's because we're sitting on a pile of uranium.
-
After all, a "critical" pile supports a self-sustained chain reaction.
Blog text (25) -
Ah, Miss. Merritt, take him to the atomic pile.
-
The famous experiment at Chicago Pile 1 proved this theory and ushered in a new era.
Blog text (3) -
It used to take sixteen technicians to run a regular atomic pile.
-
Fermi's first "pile" used 46 tons of unenriched uranium interspersed with bricks of highly purified graphite that served to moderate the fission neutrons.
Academic text (2012) -
The engineers monitored the atomic pile to ensure it was functioning correctly during the testing phase.
-
The scientific community celebrated the success of the atomic pile built at the university, marking a milestone in nuclear research.
Synonyms
248
6.3
A machine that uses a controlled nuclear reaction to make energy or new elements
42
4.8
A machine that makes heat and electricity by splitting atoms in a controlled way
1
8.4
A reactor that makes more nuclear fuel than it uses
1
4.3
A machine that splits atoms to make energy for electricity or research
1
8.4
A nuclear reactor that uses fast neutrons without a moderator to make energy
1
6.8
A nuclear power plant that makes electricity by splitting atoms with slow neutrons
An early device that makes energy by splitting atoms
A machine that makes nuclear energy by splitting atoms in a controlled chain reaction
Idioms
Compounds
2
3.7
A road accident where several cars crash into each other, often after one car hits another
- Specialized
1
6.8
A heavy machine that drives long posts into the ground for building foundations
- Specialized
1
9.9
Many particle collisions that overlap in a detector and make signals unclear
- Specialized
A heavy construction machine that uses a diesel engine to drive piles into the ground
- Archaic
An early battery made of stacked metal plates with wet material between them
- Specialized
A long flat piece of metal, wood, or concrete driven into the ground to hold back soil and water
- Specialized
A row of long metal or concrete posts placed side by side to hold back soil and water
- Specialized
A construction machine that uses strong, fast shaking to push or pull long posts into the ground
Surface Forms
Etymology
Pile for a nuclear reactor comes from the same 'stack' idea, because early reactors were built as stacked blocks of materials (the famous Chicago 'Pile' was one), so the word was used for the whole device.