FISSION

fission, nuclear fission

(noun) a nuclear reaction in which a massive nucleus splits into smaller nuclei with the simultaneous release of energy

fission

(noun) reproduction of some unicellular organisms by division of the cell into two more or less equal parts

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

fission (countable and uncountable, plural fissions)

The process whereby one item splits to become two.

(physics) Short for nuclear fission: The process of splitting the nucleus of an atom into smaller particles.

(biology) The process by which a bacterium splits to form two daughter cells.

Verb

fission (third-person singular simple present fissions, present participle fissioning, simple past and past participle fissioned)

(transitive) To cause to undergo fission.

(intransitive) To undergo fission.

Source: Wiktionary

Fis"sion, n. Etym: [L. fissio. See Fissure.]

1. A cleaving, splitting, or breaking up into parts.

2. (Biol.)

Definition: A method of asexual reproduction among the lowest (unicellular) organisms by means of a process of self-division, consisting of gradual division or cleavage of the into two parts, each of which then becomes a separate and independent organisms; as when a cell in an animal or plant, or its germ, undergoes a spontaneous division, and the parts again subdivide. See Segmentation, and Cell division, under Division.

3. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A process by which certain coral polyps, echinoderms, annelids, etc., spontaneously subdivide, each individual thus forming two or more new ones. See Strobilation.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition