reactor

noun

re·​ac·​tor rē-ˈak-tər 

1

: one that reacts

2

: a device (such as a coil, winding, or conductor of small resistance) used to introduce reactance into an alternating-current circuit

3

a

: a vat for an industrial chemical reaction

b

: a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)

Examples of reactor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This includes innovations such as perovskite solar cells, deepwater wind turbines, nuclear small modular reactors and molten salt reactors. —Dale Fickett, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025

Developed as part of the US Department of Energy (DOE) Accident Tolerant Fuel Program, this commercial reactor test aims at finding new enriched fuels that can be burned in a conventional reactor to improve performance, increase fuel life, and reduce waste. —New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2025

Iran's Nuclear Escalation Tehran has been escalating its nuclear activities, with the International Atomic Energy Agency warning that Iran's recent enrichment levels are nearing bomb-grade — much higher than is needed for most power generating reactors. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

Palisades began commercial operations in 1971 during the early wave of reactor construction in the U.S. —Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 22 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reactor

• atomic reactor
• hyper-reactor
• nuclear reactor

Rhymes for reactor

• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor
• contactor
• contractor
• distractor
• extractor
• impactor
• protractor
• redactor
• refractor
• retractor

Kids Definition

reactor

noun

re·​ac·​tor rē-ˈak-tər 

1

: one that reacts

2

: a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)

Medical Definition

reactor

noun

re·​ac·​tor rē-ˈak-tər 

1

: one that reacts: as

a

: a chemical reagent

b

: an individual reacting to a stimulus

c

: an individual reacting positively to a foreign substance (as in a test for disease)

reactors to tuberculin

2

a

: a piece of equipment in which a chemical reaction and especially an industrial chemical reaction is carried out

b

: a device for the controlled release of nuclear energy (as for producing heat)