downblend en · VERB
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /ˈdaʊn.blɛnd/ (General-American)
Etymology
Blend of down + blend.
Meanings
-
(qualifier:nuclear physics, transitive, usually) To blend highly-enriched uranium, typically from decommissioned nuclear weapons, with uranium containing a low concentration of fissile uranium-235 (slightly-enriched uranium, natural uranium, or depleted uranium) in order to convert it to low-enriched uranium suitable for use as fuel in standard power reactors but not usable for a fission bomb.
The facility has the capacity to downblend 5 tonnes of bomb-grade uranium per year.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| downblended | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| downblended | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| downblends | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| downblending | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |