Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
radioisotope

radioisotope

4 8.2
An atom that is unstable and gives off radiation
  • noun
  • /ˌreɪdioʊˈaɪsəˌtoʊp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : radioisótopo
  • Scientists are studying the effects of certain radioisotopes on human health.
  • radioisotopes emit
  • radioisotope scanning
  • beta-emitting radioisotopes

Examples

  • The laboratory uses several radioisotopes to conduct experiments on radioactive decay.

  • The relative strength of the radioisotope sources is measured in units of mCi.

    Academic text (2008)

  • After World War II, radioisotopes from nuclear reactors became available.

    Academic text (1995)

  • On the other hand, beta particles typically have energies of tens to hundreds of keV, depending on the radioisotope.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Carbon-14 is a rare form of carbon, a so-called radioisotope, that occurs naturally in the Earth's environment.

    Blog text (33)

  • "Cesium is a long-lived radioisotope with a half-life of 32.2 years."

    Academic text (2000)

  • The PTH assay is easy to obtain; it obviates the need for radioisotope scanning, and it provides an objective endpoint of surgery.

    Academic text (2001)

  • DVT was classified as definite if venography, duplex scanning, or radioisotope studies confirmed the presence of a DVT.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Iodine-131 is a radioisotope that is often used in medical treatments for thyroid disorders.

Synonyms

radionuclide
vsradioisotope
  • Specialized
2 8.6

An atom that gives off radiation and is used in medicine or science

focuses on origin and decay rather than application

Surface Forms

radioisotope singular
radioisotopes plural

Morphology

radioisotope = isotope (transparent) = radio + isotope + radio

The form is a straightforward addition of the combining form 'radio-' (meaning 'radioactive') to 'isotope', yielding 'radioactive isotope'; a learner who knows the components can derive the meaning.

Etymology

Radioisotope combines radio (meaning 'ray' or 'radiation') and isotope, which comes from the Greek parts iso- 'equal' and topos 'place'. So a radioisotope is a form of an element that gives off radiation and still 'sits in the same place' as other atoms of that element even though it has a different weight.