curie

noun

cu·​rie ˈkyu̇r-(ˌ)ē 

ˈkyər-;

kyu̇-ˈrē 

plural curies

1

: a unit quantity of any radioactive nuclide in which 3.7 × 10¹⁰ disintegrations occur per second

2

: a unit of radioactivity equal to 3.7 × 10¹⁰ disintegrations per second

—abbreviation c, Ci compare becquerel

Examples of curie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Over 100 radioactive elements, tens of millions of curies, were sent drifting across the continent for 10 days. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Marie & Pierre Curie

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for curie

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

curie

noun

cu·​rie ˈkyu̇(ə)r-(ˌ)ē 

kyu̇-ˈrē

: a unit of radioactivity equal to 37 billion disintegrations per second

Medical Definition

curie

noun

cu·​rie ˈkyu̇(ə)r-(ˌ)ē, kyu̇-ˈrē 

1

: a unit quantity of any radioactive nuclide in which 3.7 × 10¹⁰ disintegrations occur per second

2

: a unit of radioactivity equal to 3.7 × 10¹⁰ disintegrations per second

Biographical Definition

Curie 1 of 3

biographical name (1)

Cu·​rie kyu̇-ˈrē  ˈkyu̇r-(ˌ)ē 

Eve 1904–2007 daughter of Marie and Pierre Curie American (French-born) author

Curie

2 of 3

biographical name (2)

Marie 1867–1934 née Maria Skłodowska sklə-ˈdȯf-skə 

-ˈdȯv-

French (Polish-born) chemist

Curie

3 of 3

biographical name (3)

Pierre 1859–1906 husband of Marie Curie French chemist