Definition & Meaning of "nucleus"in English

Nucleus

NOUN

(biology) the part of a cell that contains most of the genetic information

Examples

The nucleus of a cell contains genetic material in the form of DNA, which regulates cellular activities.

The nucleus is surrounded by a double membrane called the nuclear envelope, which controls the passage of materials into and out of the nucleus.

a central or most important group within a larger organization, often responsible for leadership or key decisions

core

core group

Examples

The nucleus of the team consisted of senior engineers who led the development process.

The political nucleus of the movement pushed for major reforms in the education system.

the dense, positively charged core of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons and containing most of the atom's mass

Examples

The nucleus contains nearly all the mass of an atom.

Scientists studied how electrons orbit the atomic nucleus.

a distinct cluster of nerve cells within the brain or spinal cord that performs a specific function

Examples

The hypothalamic nucleus regulates hunger and body temperature.

Damage to the caudate nucleus can affect movement control.

the dense central region of the eye's lens, surrounded by the softer cortex

Examples

The lens nucleus becomes cloudy with age, leading to cataracts.

The surgeon carefully removed the hardened nucleus during the procedure.

the central core of a comet, which is composed of ice, dust, and rocky materials

Examples

The nucleus of Comet Hale-Bopp is believed to be several kilometers in diameter.

The nucleus of a comet contains volatile substances that vaporize when the comet approaches the Sun, creating its characteristic tail.

the central sound unit of a syllable, usually formed by a vowel or vowel-like element, around which other sounds cluster

What is a "nucleus"?

A nucleus is the central part of a syllable, usually consisting of a vowel sound. It serves as the core around which the rest of the syllable is built, and it is essential for the syllable's structure. For example, in the word "cat," the nucleus is the "a" sound, while in "beat," the nucleus is the "ea" sound. The nucleus is important in phonetics because it contributes to the overall sound and rhythm of speech, playing a key role in how syllables are formed and how words are pronounced in various languages.

Examples

In the word " cat, " the vowel /æ/ serves as the syllable 's nucleus.

Every syllable must have a nucleus to be pronounceable.

Lexical Tree