atomic pile en · NOUN
Etymology
From the fact that the first nuclear reactor, at the University of Chicago in 1942-1943, was literally constituted by a tall pile (heap) of graphite moderator blocks. Compare also charcoal pile, a traditional improvised kiln used in charcoal making, which uses a similar basic design to contain a volatile process. The fact that English pile also is related to French pile (“battery”) (with senses of a collection of components and a power source, often both coinstantiated) has also been noted as an interesting nexus of word roots and semantic themes.
Meanings
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(qualifier:nuclear physics) An early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite.
1948 The second atomic pile at the Government's research establishment at Harwell […] is expected to be brought into use this summer – The Times (London), May 11 1948, pg 2 col A
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| atomic piles | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Relateds
Synonyms
Translations (8)
da mile (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · pl stos atomowy (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · fi atomimiilu (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · hu atomreaktor (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · et tuumareaktor (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · hu atommáglya (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · hu máglya (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite) · hu reaktor (an early nuclear reactor fueled by uranium and moderated with graphite)