fission
[ fish-uh n ]
/ ˈfɪʃ ən /
noun
the act of cleaving or splitting into parts.
Also called nuclear fission. Physics.
the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into nuclei of lighter atoms, accompanied by the release of energy.
Compare fusion(def 4).
Biology.
the division of an organism into new organisms as a process of reproduction.
verb (used without object)
Physics.
to undergo fission.
verb (used with object)
Physics.
to cause to undergo fission.
Origin of fission
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH fission
fission fusionWords nearby fission
fishy,
fisk,
fiske,
fissi-,
fissile,
fission,
fission bomb,
fission fungi,
fission product,
fission reactor,
fission track
Example sentences from the Web for fission
British Dictionary definitions for fission
fission
/ (ˈfɪʃən) /
noun
the act or process of splitting or breaking into parts
biology
a form of asexual reproduction in single-celled animals and plants involving a division into two or more equal parts that develop into new cells
short for nuclear fission
Word Origin for fission
C19: from Latin
fissiō a cleaving
Medical definitions for fission
fission
[ fĭsh′ən ]
n.
The act or process of splitting into parts.
The amitotic division of a cell or its nucleus.
An asexual process of reproduction in which a unicellular organism divides into two or more independently maturing daughter cells.
A nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus, especially a heavy nucleus such as an isotope of uranium, splits into fragments, usually two of comparable mass, with the evolution of from 100 million to several hundred million electron volts of energy.
Scientific definitions for fission
fission
[ fĭsh′ən ]
The splitting of an unstable atomic nucleus into two or more nuclei. Fission occurs spontaneously, generally when a nucleus has an excess of neutrons, resulting in the inability of the strong force to bind the protons and neutrons together. The fission reaction used in many nuclear reactors and bombs involves the absorption of neutrons by uranium-235 nuclei, which immediately undergo fission, releasing energy and fast neutrons. Compare fusion.
A process of asexual reproduction in which a single cell splits to form two identical, independent cells. In fission, the chromosomal DNA replicates before the cell divides. Most bacteria and other prokaryotes reproduce by means of fission. Also called binary fission