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



RESET




Word of the Day

31 March 2025

IMPROVISED

(adjective) done or made using whatever is available; “crossed the river on improvised bridges”; “the survivors used jury-rigged fishing gear”; “the rock served as a makeshift hammer”


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Coffee Trivia

Espresso is both a coffee beverage and a brewing method that originated in Italy. When making an espresso, a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure forces through finely-ground coffee beans. It has more caffeine per unit volume than most coffee beverages. Its smaller serving size will take three shots to equal a mug of standard brewed coffee.

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