English Explanatory Dictionary

radioactive

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Exhibiting radioactivity.
  2. Dangerous and disgusting, particularly of people or ideas.
noun
  1. Any radioactive substance.

Pronunciation

/ˌɹeɪdiəʊˈaktɪv/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-radioactive.wav /ˌɹeɪdioʊˈæktɪv/

Word forms

radioactive more radioactive most radioactive radio-active radioactives

Etymology

Coined by Pierre Curie and Marie Curie in 1898 as French radio-actif, equivalent to English radio- + active.

Derived words

nonradioactive radioactivate radioactive dating radioactive decay radioactive disintegration radioactive equilibrium radioactive fallout radioactively radioactive tracer radioactive waste radioactivity
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