Main Entry: nu·cle·ate

Pronunciation: \ˈnü-klē-ˌāt, ˈnyü-\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): nu·cle·at·ed; nu·cle·at·ing

Etymology: Late Latin nucleatus, past participle of nucleare to become stony, from Latin nucleus

Date: circa 1864

transitive verb 1 : to form into a nucleus : cluster
2 : to act as a nucleus for
3 : to supply nuclei tointransitive verb 1 : to form a nucleus
2 : to act as a nucleus
3 : to begin to form

— nu·cle·ation \ˌnü-klē-ˈā-shən, ˌnyü-\ noun

— nu·cle·a·tor \ˈnü-klē-ˌā-tər, ˈnyü-\ noun