noun
Uncommon
nuke
nyook
Nuke (noun) means a nuclear weapon. Example: “The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a nuke.”
noun
1
A nuclear weapon.
"The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a nuke."
2
Informal: a microwave oven.
"Just stick the leftovers in the nuke for two minutes."
verb
1
To attack with nuclear weapons, or figuratively to destroy something completely.
"The general warned that the base could be nuked within hours."
"The update nuked all my saved settings."
2
Informal: to heat food in a microwave.
"He nuked his coffee to warm it back up."
How to use nuke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSlang for a nuclear bomb, and casually, for blowing something up or zapping food in the microwave.
When to use it
Very informal — fine in conversation, but "nuclear weapon" or "microwave" are the neutral choices for formal writing.
Common pairings
nuke it in the microwave
drop a nuke
nuke the competition
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Word forms
- Plural
- nukes
- Third person singular
- nukes
- Past tense
- nuked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a _____.
Etymology
A shortening of "nuclear weapon"; the verb developed later from the noun.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for nuke
See all rhymes for nuke →Frequently asked questions
What does “nuke” mean?
The word “nuke” means a nuclear weapon. In plain terms, slang for a nuclear bomb, and casually, for blowing something up or zapping food in the microwave.
How do you pronounce “nuke”?
“Nuke” is pronounced nyook (/n(j)uk/ in IPA).
How do you use “nuke” in a sentence?
Here is “nuke” used in a sentence: “The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a nuke.”
What part of speech is “nuke”?
Depending on how it is used, “nuke” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “nuke” a common word?
“Nuke” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “nuke” have?
“Nuke” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a nuclear weapon.
