hydrogen bomb

noun

: a bomb whose violent explosive power is due to the sudden release of atomic energy resulting from the fusion of light nuclei (as of hydrogen atoms) at very high temperature and pressure to form helium nuclei

Examples of hydrogen bomb in a Sentence

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In 1952, the United States vaporized an entire island in the Pacific’s Enewetak Atoll with a hydrogen bomb. Salama Udaipurwala, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024 In 1952: The United States tested the first hydrogen bomb on the Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific Ocean, resulting in a blast equivalent to 10.4 megatons of TNT, hundreds of times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Lorenzino Estrada, The Arizona Republic, 2 Nov. 2024 The Castle Bravo hydrogen bomb test on March 1, 1954, produced an explosion equivalent to 15 megatons of TNT, more than 2.5 times what scientists had expected. Amanda Kennell, Discover Magazine, 19 Oct. 2024 The character was born of the paranoia inspired by the 1954 hydrogen bomb test at Bikini Atoll, and continues to act as a potent vehicle for metaphorical horror in hit contemporary renditions like Godzilla Minus One. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hydrogen bomb 

Word History

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hydrogen bomb was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near hydrogen bomb

Cite this Entry

“Hydrogen bomb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hydrogen%20bomb. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hydrogen bomb

noun
: a bomb whose violent explosive power is due to the sudden release of atomic energy when hydrogen nuclei unite

More from Merriam-Webster on hydrogen bomb

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