fission

The splitting of the centre of an atom into smaller parts, releasing energy.

• Fission releases energy.
• The reactor uses nuclear fission to produce heat.
• Neutrons can trigger fission in uranium atoms.

Similar words: nuclear splitting

Opposites: fusion

Common phrases: nuclear fission, fission reactor, fission products

A process in which one thing divides into two separate things.

• Fission divided the group in two.
• The diagram shows fission into two separate parts.
• Repeated fission produced several independent groups.

How to use it: fission into something (The study traced the group’s fission into two smaller communities.)

Similar words: splitting, division

Opposites: fusion

Common phrases: fission into something, social fission

A process in which a bacterium divides to make two new cells.

• These bacteria reproduce by fission.
• Binary fission creates two daughter cells.
• Warm conditions increased the rate of fission in the culture.

Similar words: cell division

Common phrases: binary fission, fission in bacteria

To make an atom, cell, or other thing split into smaller parts.

• Neutrons can fission these nuclei.
• The experiment fissioned a small number of atoms.
• They used particles to fission the heavy nuclei.

Similar words: split, divide

Opposites: fuse

Common phrases: fission uranium nuclei, fission an atom

To split into smaller parts, as an atom or cell does.

• Some nuclei fission spontaneously.
• The atoms fissioned after absorbing neutrons.
• These cells fission into two daughter cells.

How to use it: fission into something (The nucleus can fission into two smaller nuclei.)

Similar words: split, divide

Opposites: fuse

Common phrases: fission spontaneously, fission into something