becquerel
noun
bec·que·rel
(ˌ)be-ˈkrel 
ˌbe-kə-ˈrel,
ˈbe-kə-ˌrel
plural becquerels
: a unit of radioactivity of a given sample of material equal to one atomic decay (see decay entry 2 sense 5b) per second
The resulting trench is still contaminated with about 100 becquerels of radioactivity per gram of soil, much higher than normal.—
Rob Edwards
compare curie sense 2
—abbreviation Bq
Rob EdwardsExamples of becquerel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Significant amounts of cesium-137 from Soviet nuclear weapons were released into the ocean in the 1960s, but the concentration in the ocean east of Japan had gone down to 1.5 becquerels per cubic meter when last measured in 2010.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Jan. 2012
But some of the boars tested in the new study carried far higher radioactivity levels, with the contamination ranging from 370 to 15,000 becquerels per kilogram of meat.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
In Bavaria, boar hunted in certain areas must be tested for radioactivity, and German health guidelines allow for the human consumption of such meat if the radiation is under 600 becquerels per kilogram.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
According to a study by the Japanese government, China’s own Fuqing nuclear power plant discharged 52 trillion becquerels of tritium in 2020.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 27 Aug. 2023
The wastewater will then be diluted to 1,500 becquerels of tritium – a unit of radioactivity – per liter of clean water.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2023
The World Health Organization allows 10,000, while the US has a more conservative limit of 740 becquerel per liter.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2023
For comparison, Japan’s regulatory limit allows a maximum of 60,000 becquerels per liter.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2023
Australia, which has no nuclear power plants, allows more than 76,000 becquerel per liter, a measure used to gauge radioactivity, while the WHO’s limit is 10,000.
—Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 19 Apr. 2023
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
IEEE Spectrum, 11 Jan. 2012
But some of the boars tested in the new study carried far higher radioactivity levels, with the contamination ranging from 370 to 15,000 becquerels per kilogram of meat.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
In Bavaria, boar hunted in certain areas must be tested for radioactivity, and German health guidelines allow for the human consumption of such meat if the radiation is under 600 becquerels per kilogram.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2023
According to a study by the Japanese government, China’s own Fuqing nuclear power plant discharged 52 trillion becquerels of tritium in 2020.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 27 Aug. 2023
The wastewater will then be diluted to 1,500 becquerels of tritium – a unit of radioactivity – per liter of clean water.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2023
The World Health Organization allows 10,000, while the US has a more conservative limit of 740 becquerel per liter.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2023
For comparison, Japan’s regulatory limit allows a maximum of 60,000 becquerels per liter.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 4 July 2023
Australia, which has no nuclear power plants, allows more than 76,000 becquerel per liter, a measure used to gauge radioactivity, while the WHO’s limit is 10,000.
—Emiko Jozuka, CNN, 19 Apr. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near becquerel
Cite this Entry
“Becquerel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/becquerel. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationBiographical Definition
Becquerel
biographical name
Bec·que·rel
be-ˈkrel
ˌbe-kə-ˈrel
family of French physicists including: Antoine-César 1788–1878; his son Alexandre-Edmond 1820–1891; the latter's son Antoine-Henri 1852–1908
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share