hydrogen bomb

noun

Updated on: 12 Apr 2018

Definition of hydrogen bomb

: a bomb whose violent explosive power is due to the sudden release of atomic energy resulting from the fusion of light nuclei (as of hydrogen atoms) at very high temperature and pressure to form helium nuclei

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Recent Examples of hydrogen bomb from the Web

The scientists believe the planet is closer to nuclear annihilation than at any time since 1953, just after the United States decided to develop the hydrogen bomb.

— robert f. worth, New York Times, "Can Jim Mattis Hold the Line in Trump’s ‘War Cabinet’?," 26 Mar. 2018
In September, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test and its first of a miniaturized hydrogen bomb, intended for a long-range missile.

— richard engel, NBC News, "Open-source material offers hints on North Korea’s missile capabilities," 1 Mar. 2018
Events at Thule returned to the headlines in 2008 with a report by the BBC that — despite U.S. claims to the contrary — searchers were only able to locate three of the four hydrogen bombs.

— robert mitchell, Washington Post, "Cataclysmic cargo: The hunt for four missing nuclear bombs after a B-52 crash," 21 Jan. 2018
Hawking also concluded that, 10 billion years or more after their formation, these black holes would ultimately explode with the energy of millions of hydrogen bombs.

— thomas h. maugh ii, latimes.com, "Stephen Hawking, who redefined the view of the universe for scientists and public alike, dies at 76," 14 Mar. 2018
Nuclear fusion drives the sun and stars, and hydrogen bombs.

— hiawatha bray, BostonGlobe.com, "MIT says nuclear fusion as a practical energy source is less than two decades away," 9 Mar. 2018
During his meetings in Pyongyang, Chung will almost certainly bring up the issue of denuclearization, the outside world's most pressing concern, especially since North Korea last year exploded what was widely agreed to be a hydrogen bomb.

— anna fifield, Anchorage Daily News, "North Korean leader holds first direct talks with delegation from rival South," 6 Mar. 2018
With its Fourth of July test of an intercontinental missile capable of reaching the continental United States, and its powerful hydrogen bomb test in September, North Korea succeeded in getting Washington's attention.

— barbara demick, latimes.com, "Whatever comes next, North Korea's Kim Jong Un can claim a win against Trump," 10 Mar. 2018
And his nuclear scientists detonated a hydrogen bomb for the first time.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "Kim Jong Un: Is North Korea’s leader desperate or confident?," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hydrogen bomb.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hydrogen bomb

1947

in the meaning defined above

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HYDROGEN BOMB Defined for English Language Learners

hydrogen bomb

noun

Definition of hydrogen bomb for English Language Learners

: a bomb that produces an extremely powerful and destructive explosion when hydrogen atoms unite

HYDROGEN BOMB Defined for Kids

hydrogen bomb

noun

Definition of hydrogen bomb for Students

: a bomb whose great power is due to the sudden release of energy when the central portions of hydrogen atoms unite

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See words that rhyme with hydrogen bomb Spanish Central: Translation of hydrogen bomb Nglish: Translation of hydrogen bomb for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hydrogen bomb

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hydrogen bomb

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hydrogen bomb

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hydrogen bomb

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