[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/nucleus/)

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# nucleus

noun (a nucleus, nuclei)

«nucleus» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (science) The nucleus is the centre of a cell that holds its DNA and controls it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#m1)
2. (science) The nucleus of an atom is its tiny centre, made of protons and neutrons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#m2)
3. A nucleus is the central or most important part of a group or thing, as in the nucleus of a team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#m3)

### In the lessons

In biology lessons, plant and animal cells have a nucleus; bacteria do not. In chemistry and physics, the atom's nucleus holds almost all its mass, with electrons around it; nuclear energy comes from it. In everyday talk, a few key players form the nucleus of a team.

### Examples

- The nucleus controls what the cell does. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x1)
- Plant and animal cells both have a nucleus. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x2)
- The nucleus of an atom contains protons and neutrons. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x3)
- We drew the nucleus in the middle of our cell diagram. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x4)
- Nuclear power comes from splitting the nucleus of atoms. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x5)
- These five players are the nucleus of the team. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x6)
- The latter scholar has proved that there is a nucleus of stories in every European land which is common to all. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/#x7)

### Note

Plural: nuclei (said NEW-klee-eye). Adjective: nuclear. Said NEW-klee-us (UK) or NOO-klee-us (US). Trap: nuclear is often mispronounced nucular.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «nucleus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/N/nucleus/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«nucleus» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/nucleus.html) on Mova free.