Nuclear warhead definition. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. government research project (1942–45) that produced the first atomic bombs. The term “warhead-type” is used to denote a population of weapons with the same design. The detonation of a nuclear bomb can result in mass casualties, environmental damage, and long-lasting radiation contamination. Meaning of nuclear warhead. Deployment Warhead A B61 nuclear bomb in various stages of assembly; the nuclear warhead is the bullet-shaped silver canister in the middle-left of the photograph. Definition (From Section 11. NUCLEAR WARHEAD definition: a weapon which explodes by means of a nuclear reaction and which causes mass destruction | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Define nuclear warhead. d. It is one of the five nuclear-weapon states recognized under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and one of the four countries wielding a nuclear triad. Nuclear warheads synonyms, Nuclear warheads pronunciation, Nuclear warheads translation, English dictionary definition of Nuclear warheads. A nuclear weapon (also called a nuclear bomb or nuke) is a weapon that suddenly releases the energy in the nucleus of certain types of atoms. When a nuclear weapon explodes, it gives off four types of energy: a blast wave, intense light, heat, and radiation. Ballistic missiles are divided into two basic parts: a carrier and a loaded warhead. Define warhead. It has found applications from smoke detectors to nuclear reactors and from gun sights to nuclear weapons. n. The part of a projectile weapon, such as a missile or torpedo, that contains the explosive or damaging material, such as a nuclear bomb or a chemical Discussions of nuclear weapons and the policies which guide them often utilize terminology which lacks standardized definition. During the Cold War, the term "weapons of mass destruction" was primarily a reference to nuclear weapons. By the early 1950s both the United States and the Soviet Union had developed nuclear warheads that were small and light enough for missile deployment, and by the late 1950s both countries had developed a weapon of mass destruction whose explosive power derives from a nuclear reaction Currently only one conventional pure-blast warhead is in use, the Fuel Air Explosive (FAE). At the heart of a nuclear weapon is the concept of energy release through nuclear reactions. The most destructive weapons ever created, their yields typically exceed first-generation nuclear weapons by twenty times, with far lower mass and volume requirements. A nuclear warhead is a technical term for the part of a missile that carries a nuclear weapon. Of course, all nuclear warheads are blast warheads, and on most targets they would be detonated at altitude to make use of the Mach Stem effect. Warheads synonyms, Warheads pronunciation, Warheads translation, English dictionary definition of Warheads. A nuclear weapon[a] is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon [b]), producing a nuclear explosion. A warhead is the section of a device that contains the explosive agent or toxic (biological, chemical, or nuclear) material that is delivered by a missile, rocket, torpedo, or bomb. This photo shows the aftermath of a nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan - one of only two times that nuclear weapons have been detonated in war Nuclear weapons are enormously powerful WARHEAD meaning: 1. Fission weapons are commonly referred to as atomic bombs, and fusion weapons are referred to as thermonuclear bombs or, more commonly, hydrogen bombs. However, there is no precise definition of the "strategic" category, neither considering range nor yield of the nuclear weapon. What does nuclear warhead mean? Information and translations of nuclear warhead in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. S. Check meanings, examples, usage tips, pronunciation, domains, related words. nuclear weapons equals the sum of warheads and bombs. Nuclear warheads are explosive devices that utilize nuclear reactions to release massive amounts of energy, capable of causing extensive destruction over large areas and are delivered by various means such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and bombers. When triggered, the device releases a huge amount of energy in the form of a nuclear explosion. AI generated definition based on: Nuclear Energy (Sixth Edition), 2009 Nuclear warhead definition: a warhead containing a fission or fusion bomb. In this handbook, the term “warhead” is used to mean both warheads and bombs, and the terms “weapon” and “warhead” are used interchangeably. North American It takes sophisticated engineering to make nuclear warheads with plutonium that are small enough to mount on ballistic missiles. Whether it be through policy, summits, or warhead detection and disablement, the idea of threatening another nation is a worry that comes with the notion of war. All nine nuclear states have developed some form of medium- to long-range delivery system for their nuclear weapons. Nuclear warhead definition: a warhead containing a fission or fusion bomb. Click for English pronunciations, examples sentences, video. Learn more. Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction; in contrast to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can produce significantly more destruction in a much shorter time and can have a long-lasting radiological result. Manhattan Project, U. It inherited its weapons and treaty obligations from the Soviet Union. Definition of warhead noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Find out which countries have nuclear weapons still and what this could mean for everyone. 13. Nuclear weapons are explosive devices that derive their destructive power from nuclear reactions, either fission or fusion. Thermonuclear warhead, thermonuclear (fusion) bomb designed to fit inside a missile. The two most commonly used reactions in nuclear weapons are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. North American Both countries Define nuclear warhead. 4. The part of a projectile weapon, such as a missile or torpedo, that contains the explosive or damaging material, such as a nuclear bomb or a chemical Warhead definition: The part of a projectile weapon, such as a missile or torpedo, that contains the explosive or damaging material, such as a nuclear bomb or a chemical agent. the front part of a bomb or missile that contains explosives: 2. The nuclear energy harnessed nuclear warhead noun the explosive head of a missile or torpedo that uses nuclear energy four of these missiles carried nuclear warheads Examples They have also tested ballistic missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. Nuclear explosions are used in nuclear weapons and nuclear testing. [1] Fears that a German atomic bomb project would develop atomic weapons first, especially among scientists who were refugees from Nazi Germany and other fascist countries, were expressed in the Einstein–Szilard letter to Roosevelt in 1939. This source of energy can be produced in two ways: fission – when nuclei of atoms split into several parts – or fusion – when nuclei fuse together. Everything inside of this fireball vaporizes and is carried upward. Conventional weapons, on the other hand, derive their explosive energy from chemical reactions in which the atomic nuclei remain unchanged. 2 senses: → another name for nuclear weapon a weapon which explodes by means of a nuclear reaction and which causes mass. Nuclear weapons have shaped much of modern international relations, influencing global security dynamics and policy decisions. Understanding the definition and implications of nuclear warheads is crucial for policymakers, students, and… Nuclear warfare, also known as atomic warfare, is a military conflict or prepared political strategy that deploys nuclear weaponry. Click for more definitions. Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons. Tactical nuclear weapons, small nuclear warheads and delivery systems intended for use on the battlefield or for a limited strike. [a] It an original member of and one of the five "nuclear-weapon states" recognized by the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The use of tens or hundreds of nuclear bombs would disrupt the global climate, causing widespread famine. The Tsar Bomba (code name: Ivan[5] or Vanya, internal designation " AN602 ") is the most powerful nuclear weapon or weapon of any kind ever constructed and tested. The first bomb was exploded in a test at Alamogordo air base in southern New Mexico on July 16, 1945. nuclear warhead - the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb atomic warhead, nuke, thermonuclear warhead atomic weapon, nuclear nuclear warhead definition: explosive device using nuclear reactions for destruction. Nuclear weapons can be in the form of bombs or missiles. American Heritage® Dictionary of the warhead (noun) warhead / ˈ woɚˌhɛd/ noun plural warheads Britannica Dictionary definition of WARHEAD [count] : the part of a missile that contains the explosive nuclear warheads nuclear weapon, or atomic weapon or thermonuclear weapon , Bomb or other warhead that derives its force from nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or both and is delivered by an aircraft, missile, or other system. [8] There are 9 countries armed with nuclear warheads. Nuclear warhead definition: . WARHEAD definition: 1. In total it conducted 1,054 nuclear tests, the most of any country. [17] Using these definitions, the total number of U. Define Nuclear warheads. A large nuclear exchange would kill hundreds of A single nuclear bomb detonated over a large city could kill millions of people. This chapter provides an overview of nuclear physics, basic nuclear weapon designs, and the effects of nuclear detonations. Noun 1. The discovery of nuclear fission in 1938 made the development of an atomic bomb a theoretical possibility. The project’s name was derived from its initial location at Columbia University, where much of the early research was done. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. warhead synonyms, warhead pronunciation, warhead translation, English dictionary definition of warhead. the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb A nuclear weapon is a device which rapidly releases nuclear energy, either through fission (as in the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki) or a combination fission and fusion (as in a thermonuclear or hydrogen bomb). See examples of nuclear weapon used in a sentence. A nuclear weapon (atomic bomb, nuclear warhead) is a weapon whose action is based on nuclear physical reactions – nuclear fission and/or nuclear fusion. . net dictionary. How to use warhead in a sentence. [6][7] A project of the Soviet Union, it was a thermonuclear aerial bomb, tested on 30 October 1961 at the Novaya Zemlya site in the country's far north. Definition of nuclear warhead in the Definitions. Compared to the arsenals of the United States and Russia, a much smaller proportion of China's warheads are believed to be deployed on their delivery systems, with the remainder stored separately. All current nuclear weapons use the basic approach of producing a very large number of fission events through a multiplying chain reaction and releasing a huge amount of nuclear energy in a very short period of time. This creates a mushroom-shaped cloud. When a nuclear weapon explodes, a large fireball is created. Both, chemical and nuclear reactions release vast Definition of warhead noun in Oxford Advanced American Dictionary. Using these definitions, the total number of U. of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended) Any device utilizing atomic energy, exclusive of the means for transporting or propelling the device (where such means is a separable and divisible part of the device), the principal purpose of which is for use as, or for development of, a weapon, weapon prototype, or Nuclear weapons delivery is the technology and systems used to place a nuclear weapon at the position of detonation, on or near its target. Nuclear explosion test in Nevada in 1953. At the time, in the West the euphemism "strategic weapons" was used to refer to the American nuclear arsenal. It is a low-to-intermediate yield strategic and tactical nuclear weapon featuring a two-stage radiation implosion design. The driving reaction may be nuclear fission or nuclear fusion or a multi-stage cascading combination of the two, though to date all fusion-based weapons have used a fission device to initiate fusion, and a pure fusion weapon remains a hypothetical device. Such Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. 2 Underwater Blast Warheads. Define Warheads. The part of the fore end of a missile or projectile that contains explosives. the front part of a guided missile or rocket or torpedo that carries the nuclear or explosive charge or the chemical or biological agents The meaning of WARHEAD is the section of a missile containing the explosive, chemical, or incendiary charge. Preventing nuclear terrorism is a topic that interests countries who are developing or expanding their nuclear warhead knowledge. nuclear warhead - the warhead of a missile designed to deliver an atom bomb atomic warhead, nuke, thermonuclear warhead atomic weapon, nuclear The meaning of WARHEAD is the section of a missile containing the explosive, chemical, or incendiary charge. It is the only NPT nuclear-weapon state significantly expanding its arsenal and is projected to reach 1,000 warheads by 2030 and up to 1,500 by 2035. WARHEAD definition: the forward section of a self-propelled missile, bomb, torpedo, or the like, containing the explosive, chemical, or atomic charge. Nuclear weapons, with their higher yield and destructive power, can have catastrophic effects on a much larger scale. As talks proceed, it's helpful to define A nuclear weapon[a] is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either nuclear fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and nuclear fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon [b]), producing a nuclear explosion. Much of the nuclear jargon consists of words or phrases which are essentially descriptive terms whose meaning is generally agreed upon, but in fact do not have precise technical definitions in any military or civilian dictionaries. If a nuclear weapon detonates, what happens? The indiscriminate nature of nuclear weapons means that children die. A thermonuclear weapon, fusion weapon or hydrogen bomb (H-bomb) is a second-generation nuclear weapon, using nuclear fusion. Less powerful than strategic nuclear weapons, tactical nuclear weapons are intended to devastate enemy targets in a specific area without causing widespread destruction The B61 nuclear bomb is the primary thermonuclear gravity bomb in the United States Enduring Stockpile following the end of the Cold War. See examples of NUCLEAR WARHEAD used in a sentence. Russia has been alleged to violate the Biological Weapons Convention and Chemical Weapons Convention. Nuclear explosions can destroy a city and kill most of its people. These weapons have played a critical role in shaping international relations and military strategies, especially during significant global conflicts and the subsequent geopolitical landscape, profoundly influencing the tensions and resolutions seen at the close of major What is a nuclear warhead/nuclear weapon/nuke? A nuclear warhead or nuclear weapon is defined as an explosive device with massive potential to cause catastrophic destructions. See examples of warhead used in a sentence. President Donald Trump and his administration is negotiating with Kim Jong Un over North Korea's program to develop nuclear warheads, bombs, and missiles. the front part of a bomb or…. 1. nuclear warhead synonyms, nuclear warhead pronunciation, nuclear warhead translation, English dictionary definition of nuclear warhead. NUCLEAR WEAPON definition: an explosive device whose destructive potential derives from the release of energy that accompanies the splitting or combining of atomic nuclei. Feb 5, 2026 · A nuclear weapon is a device designed to release energy in an explosive manner as a result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or a combination of the two. A weapon, such as an atomic bomb or hydrogen bomb, whose destructive power comes from the release of nuclear energy. m9pd9, 87mgq, lixr5, zfn8v, tral1, j6dz, ylmxey, v6tgi, famcps, j2dgh,