fusion bomb
1
6.3
- noun
- /ˈfjuːʒən bɑm/
- Specialized
:
bomba de fusión
- The fission bomb and then the fusion bomb are remarkable counterexamples to the general rule that simpler, older science makes for more effective (military) technology.
Examples
-
Just 21 years after its discovery, deuterium fueled the first nuclear-fusion bomb.
Academic text (2012) -
So this all had nothing to do with the disappearing nuclear physicist and Colonel Mustard's work on the new fusion bomb.
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He's working on the secret of the next fusion bomb.
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This all has nothing to do with my disappearing nuclear physicist husband or Colonel Mustard's work with the new, top secret fusion bomb?
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It's one thing to make a fusion bomb; it's a lot harder to get the reaction going and keep it under control in a way that the amount of energy extracted is larger than that expended to initiate and manage the reaction.
Blog text (3) -
The secrets of Senator Peacock's defense committee, of Colonel Mustard's fusion bomb, Professor Plum's UN contacts, and the work of your husband, the nuclear physicist.
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"This is a fusion bomb," DeLillo reminds us; among other things, this digital representation of Armageddon fuses the computer, the dead nun, and the blast itself, "a great aurora glory massing on the color monitor."
Academic text (1997) -
The first successful fusion bomb test created a massive explosion that changed military strategy globally.
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In 1952, scientists successfully detonated the world's first fusion bomb, marking a pivotal moment in nuclear research.
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The devastating power of a fusion bomb lies in its ability to fuse light atomic nuclei at incredibly high temperatures.
Synonyms
∞
1.8
A container with explosive material that makes a large explosion and damages things
634
3.5
A very powerful bomb that uses energy from splitting or joining atoms
148
7.6
A very powerful bomb that uses nuclear energy
96
4.8
A thing that can kill or injure many people, like nuclear, chemical and biological devices
35
5.0
A part of a missile or bomb that contains a nuclear bomb
11
3.5
A very powerful explosive that uses energy from splitting or joining atoms to destroy things
8
4.9
A very powerful nuclear bomb that makes a huge explosion by joining hydrogen atoms
3
4.0
A very powerful nuclear weapon that explodes by joining hydrogen atoms
1
6.0
A very powerful nuclear bomb equal to one million tons of TNT
1
7.4
A bomb put on a missile that uses nuclear energy to make a very large explosion
1
6.9
A very powerful weapon that makes a huge explosion by joining tiny hydrogen atoms at extreme heat
1
7.5
A very powerful bomb that can destroy a whole city, often using nuclear energy
A bomb with the power of several million tons of TNT
How Energetic
- Specialized
1
6.3
- Specialized
73
5.9
- Specialized
4
4.9
- Specialized
24
3.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'fusion' (the process of joining light nuclei) + 'bomb' (an explosive device) yields a bomb that works by fusion. A B1 learner who knows both constituent words can infer it denotes a weapon producing energy via nuclear fusion, so the compound is transparent despite being a technical term.
Etymology
Fusion bomb names what the weapon does: fusion means 'joining' and a bomb makes a 'big explosion'. When tiny hydrogen atoms are forced to 'join', that joining releases a huge amount of energy, so the phrase means a 'very powerful' nuclear weapon.