What does "nucleus" mean?
The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.
Nucleus
/ˈnjuː.kli.əs/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.
- Grammar: nucleus is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cell nucleus, acorn, alpha particle, anlage.
- Useful contrasts: coma, ganglia, surrounds.
- Usage evidence: You two are the nucleus of the team.
How to use "nucleus"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "nucleus" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "nucleus" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "nucleus" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "nucleus" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "nucleus" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cell nucleus" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "nucleus", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.
"Situated in the centre of the largest agricultural basin in northern Formosa, T’ai-pei (population in 1964 was estimated to be 1,117,000) forms the nucleus of a major industrial area. The T’ai-pei industrial complex includes light and heavy industies within the urbanized area and also in several industrial suburbs, including Pan-ch’iao and Nan-chiang."
- 2 the central structure of the lens that is surrounded by the cortex wordnet
- 3 An initial part or version that will receive additions.
"This collection will form the nucleus of a new library."
- 4 a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction wordnet
- 5 The massive, positively charged central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons.
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 any histologically identifiable mass of neural cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord wordnet
- 7 A large membrane-enclosed organelle found in eukaryotic cells which contains genetic material.
- 8 a small group of indispensable persons or things wordnet
- 9 A ganglion, cluster of many neuronal bodies where synapsing occurs.
- 10 the positively charged dense center of an atom wordnet
- 11 The central part of a syllable, most commonly a vowel.
- 12 (astronomy) the center of the head of a comet; consists of small solid particles of ice and frozen gas that vaporizes on approaching the sun to form the coma and tail wordnet
- 13 A small bee-hive used to create a colony from a larger existing one.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"You two are the nucleus of the team."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "nucleus"?
Common synonyms include: cell nucleus, acorn, alpha particle, anlage, antibaryon, antilepton.
How do you use "nucleus" in a sentence?
You two are the nucleus of the team.
How do you pronounce "nucleus"?
Pronounced /ˈnjuː.kli.əs/.
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin nucleus (“kernel, core”). The earliest uses refer to the head of a comet and the kernel of a seed, both recorded in Lexicon Technicum in 1704. The sense in atomic physics was coined by British scientist Michael Faraday in 1844 in a theoretical meaning.