tokamak

[ toh-kuh-mak, tok-uh- ]
/ ˈtoʊ kəˌmæk, ˈtɒk ə- /

noun Physics.

a type of experimental nuclear fusion reactor in which a plasma of atoms circulates in a toroidal tube and is confined to a narrow beam by an electromagnetic field.

Origin of tokamak

1960–65; < Russian tokamák, acronym from toroidálʾnaya kámera s aksiálʾnym magnítnym pólem toroidal chamber with an axial magnetic field

British Dictionary definitions for tokamak

tokamak
/ (ˈtɒkəˌmæk) /

noun

physics a toroidal reactor used in thermonuclear experiments, in which a strong helical magnetic field keeps the plasma from contacting the external walls. The magnetic field is produced partly by current-carrying coils and partly by a large inductively driven current through the plasma

Word Origin for tokamak

C20: from Russian to ( roidál'naya) kám ( era s) ak ( siál'nym magnitnym pólem), toroidal chamber with magnetic field