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

Three Mile Island is best known because its Unit 2 reactor partially melted down in 1979. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 9 Dec. 2024

However, Texas won’t likely see its first new commercial reactor come online for at least five years. —Dylan Baddour, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2024

Those advanced reactors aren’t expected to become commercially viable until the 2030s. —Justine Calma, The Verge, 4 Dec. 2024

The reactors that did open were years behind schedule. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reactor

• atomic reactor
• hyper-reactor
• nuclear reactor

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)