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

A nuclear weapon.

"The film imagined a world where a rogue state got hold of a nuke."

Informal: a microwave oven.

"Just stick the leftovers in the nuke for two minutes."

verb

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."

Informal: to heat food in a microwave.

"He nuked his coffee to warm it back up."

How to use nuke

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

nuked past tense, nukes plural, nukes singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “nuke” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

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 →

microwave zap atomize atomise atom-bomb micro-cook atomic warhead nuclear warhead thermonuclear warhead

Related words

light destroy microwave beep atomize zap vaporize shortwave

Rhymes for nuke

duke puke juke Luke fluke rebuke Kosuke Daisuke archduke Marmaduke

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.

People also searched

light destroy microwave beep atomize zap vaporize shortwave