Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
fishskin disease
fishtail
fishway
fishwife
fishworm
fishy
fissi-
fissile
fission
fission bomb
fission-track dating
fissionable
fissiparous
fissiped
fissure
fist
fist jam
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

fission

fis·sion [ físh'n ]


noun 
Definition:
 
1. nuclear physics splitting of atomic nucleus releasing energy: the spontaneous or induced splitting of an atomic nucleus into smaller parts, usually accompanied by a significant release of energy

2. breaking up: the act or process of separating into parts

3. genetics division of an organism: the division of a single-celled organism into two equal parts, each part growing into a complete organism

[Early 17th century. < Latin fission-< fiss- (see fissi-)]
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft