radioactivity
- noun
- /ˌreɪdiəʊˈæktɪvɪti/
- Specialized
- After the accident, the government had to assess the radioactivity levels in the surrounding areas.
- natural radioactivity
- measure radioactivity
- release radioactivity
The fatal flaw of that whole scheme is that it spreads radioactivity all around.
- The fatal flaw of that whole scheme is that it spreads radioactivity all around.
- A mile below our feet is an ancient ocean floor suffused with heavy metals, radioactivity and methane.
- Indeed, radioactivity levels are typically higher near coal plants than near nuclear power plants.
- Afraid of radioactivity by a Geiger counter?
- And that of course, the discovery of radioactivity, one of the great triumphs of modern science.
- You know, they had X-rays and you shouldn't be using them, but they there was radioactivity.
- But when it turned, when you went to look at what happened, there were very important experimental results like radioactivity.
Examples
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Flooding would cause canisters to crack and spew radioactivity into the environment.
Fiction book (1993) -
The documents stated that the levels of radioactivity appeared to be significantly higher than the average background.
-
You have seen real radioactivity put to use.
-
So here you see a slide showing the radioactivity of spent fuel.
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Indeed, radioactivity levels are typically higher near coal plants than near nuclear power plants.
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Second, there is a constant, fairly high background level of radioactivity involved.
Fiction book (2001) -
Every geologic survey, no matter what its original purpose, was to look for signs of radioactivity.
Academic text (1996) -
Non-union Navajo miners were exposed to high levels of radioactivity in mines and mills.
Academic text (1995) -
Neutrinos are produced on Earth by natural radioactivity, by nuclear reactors, and by high-energy accelerators.
Academic text (1990) -
The level of radioactivity near the nuclear power plant was closely monitored to ensure safety.
Synonyms
Energy that comes out as rays or waves, like sunlight
The process when a radioactive atom changes and gives off radiation
An unstable atom's nucleus loses energy by giving off radiation
A radioactive atom breaks apart and gives off radiation
Compounds
- Specialized
A measure that shows how strong radioactivity is, like the becquerel
How Radioactive
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
radioactivity = radioactive (semi-transparent) = radio + active + ity
Formation from the adjective 'radioactive' to the noun with '-ity' is a standard, predictable derivation.
Etymology
Radioactivity comes from an old Latin word radius meaning 'ray' and the familiar word activity meaning 'action'. So radioactivity literally means 'the action of giving off rays', which fits how unstable atoms send out particles or energy.