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noun

curie

Curie (noun) means a unit of radioactivity, equal to 37 billion decays per second. Example: “Older radiation measurements were often given in curies rather than becquerels.”

noun
1
A unit of radioactivity, equal to 37 billion decays per second.
"Older radiation measurements were often given in curies rather than becquerels."

How to use curie

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA scientific unit measuring how radioactive a substance is, named after the Curies.

Word forms

curies plural

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Older radiation measurements were often given in _____ rather than becquerels.

Etymology

Named after physicist Pierre Curie (1859–1906), who along with his wife Marie Curie pioneered research into radioactivity.

· First attested 1859

Class of 1859 curie joined the language around 1859.
See the full Class of 1859 →
Ci

Related words

Rhymes for curie

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Frequently asked questions

What does “curie” mean?

The word “curie” means a unit of radioactivity, equal to 37 billion decays per second. In plain terms, a scientific unit measuring how radioactive a substance is, named after the Curies.

How do you use “curie” in a sentence?

Here is “curie” used in a sentence: “Older radiation measurements were often given in curies rather than becquerels.”

What part of speech is “curie”?

“Curie” is a noun.

Where does the word “curie” come from?

The word “curie” dates back to around 1859. Named after physicist Pierre Curie (1859–1906), who along with his wife Marie Curie pioneered research into radioactivity.

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