fission
1 of 2noun
fis·sion ˈfi-shᵊn 
-zhᵊn
1
: a splitting or breaking up into parts
2
: reproduction by spontaneous division of the body into two or more parts each of which grows into a complete organism
3
: the splitting of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of large amounts of energy
fissional
ˈfi-shə-nəl
adjective -zhə-
fission
2 of 2verb
fissioned; fissioning; fissions
intransitive verb
: to undergo fission
transitive verb
: to cause to undergo fission
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 13 Sep. 2022 There is, in fact, no energy phenomenon that comes close to matching what nuclear fission offers, something that was obvious to its proponents from the earliest days and was the central animating reason for excitement. Nr Editors, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022 All told, 80 percent of domestic electricity production comes from natural gas, coal and nuclear fission. Clive Thompson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 For artists, that fission can be transformational, if not electrifying. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 5 July 2022 For example, the cost of generating electricity from oil, gas, wind, solar or nuclear fission all have different values. Alexander Lidow, Forbes, 30 June 2022 Relatively small and lightweight, fission systems can enable continuous power—regardless of location, weather, sunlight, or other natural resources. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 23 June 2022 Inside the core, uranium atoms split in a process called fission, which releases heat. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 11 May 2022 The agency's fission surface power initiative expands on five decades of heritage projects, including Kilopower, which ended in 2018. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 23 June 2022 Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2022 The point is that by analyzing the array of radioactive fission products – those that can be captured and analyzed – nuclear forensic specialists can start to figure out if the atoms that fissioned were U-235, Pu-239, or (in some cases) U-238. Andrew Karam, Popular Mechanics, 7 Jan. 2016 Anyone can see that fissioning uranium 235 or plutonium can be used to generate electricity. Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2018 See More
Noun
The nuclear plants in play today use fission technology, meaning the use of heavier elements whose nucleuses are forcibly split in order to release heat energy. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 13 Sep. 2022 There is, in fact, no energy phenomenon that comes close to matching what nuclear fission offers, something that was obvious to its proponents from the earliest days and was the central animating reason for excitement. Nr Editors, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022 All told, 80 percent of domestic electricity production comes from natural gas, coal and nuclear fission. Clive Thompson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2022 For artists, that fission can be transformational, if not electrifying. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 5 July 2022 For example, the cost of generating electricity from oil, gas, wind, solar or nuclear fission all have different values. Alexander Lidow, Forbes, 30 June 2022 Relatively small and lightweight, fission systems can enable continuous power—regardless of location, weather, sunlight, or other natural resources. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 23 June 2022 Inside the core, uranium atoms split in a process called fission, which releases heat. Manasee Wagh, Popular Mechanics, 11 May 2022 The agency's fission surface power initiative expands on five decades of heritage projects, including Kilopower, which ended in 2018. Stephanie Mlot, PCMAG, 23 June 2022 Verb
Most atoms do not fission, but the isotopes of certain elements, such as uranium-235, are fissile. Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2022 The point is that by analyzing the array of radioactive fission products – those that can be captured and analyzed – nuclear forensic specialists can start to figure out if the atoms that fissioned were U-235, Pu-239, or (in some cases) U-238. Andrew Karam, Popular Mechanics, 7 Jan. 2016 Anyone can see that fissioning uranium 235 or plutonium can be used to generate electricity. Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2018 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
borrowed from Latin fissiōn-, fissiō, from fid-, variant stem of findere "to split, cleave" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at bite entry 1
Verb
derivative of fission entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1617, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1929, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing fission
Kids Definition
fission
noun
fis·sion ˈfi-shən
1
: a method of reproduction in which a living cell or body divides into two or more parts each of which grows into a whole new individual
2
: the process of splitting an atomic nucleus with the release of large amounts of energy
Medical Definition
fission
noun
fis·sion ˈfish-ən also ˈfizh-
1
: a method of reproduction in which a living cell or body divides into two or more parts each of which grows into a whole new individual
2
a
: cleavage sense 2
b
: the splitting of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of large amounts of energy
called also nuclear fission