radioactivity unit
- noun
- /ˌreɪdiəʊˈæktɪvɪti ˈjuːnɪt/
- Specialized
- The radioactivity unit used in most countries is the becquerel.
Examples
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The radioactivity unit measures the intensity of radiation.
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The scientist explained how a radioactivity unit quantifies decay activity.
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Safety standards specify maximum levels in each radioactivity unit.
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He explained the radioactivity units used in the experiment.
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The radioactivity unit measures the amount of radiation emitted by a sample.
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The most common radioactivity unit for measuring radiation is the sievert.
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In research, a radioactivity unit helps scientists quantify the level of radioactivity.
Synonyms
A unit that measures radioactivity equal to 37 billion atoms breaking apart each second
A unit for measuring radioactivity equal to 37 billion decays each second
A small measure of how radioactive something is, equal to one thousandth of a curie
A very small unit for measuring radiation equal to one millionth of a curie
An old unit showing how much radon gas is in the air
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'radioactivity' (radiation from atomic decay) combined with 'unit' (a measurement standard) yields a measurement unit for radioactivity. This follows the common noun+unit construction found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The noun radioactivity unit comes from putting together radioactivity (the energy atoms give off) and unit (a standard way to measure). That's why a radioactivity unit is a standard measure, like the becquerel, 'to show how strong the radioactivity is'.