nucleate
verb
nu·cle·ate
ˈnü-klē-ˌāt 
ˈnyü-
nucleated; nucleating
2
: to act as a nucleus for
3
: to supply nuclei to
Examples of nucleate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When using conventional, crystals tend to nucleate and grow in random times and places.
—
Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
In these cases, the Garvin is filled with a combination of small groups nucleated by one shark fan or people who wanted to be a marine biologist at some point or those who simply have a general interest in science.
—ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025
Researchers have identified a few things that can make a surface better or worse at nucleating ice.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 June 2024
If another bubble universe just happened to nucleate close to ours, then there’s a small chance that our universes may have briefly intersected before being permanently driven away from each other.
—Popular Mechanics, 7 Apr. 2023
Rough spots inside a glass can also help to nucleate bubbles; some glassmakers etch shapes inside glasses to help this process along.
—Nicola Jones, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2021
These boundaries often contain areas of enhanced wind shear (change in wind direction), leading to pockets of spin that can nucleate a tornado within stronger storm cells.
—Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2020
The other option is to enhance ALD by using a very thin oxidized layer, such as silicon oxide, to help nucleate the growth of the ALD layer.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2020
The issue about how many carbon dioxide bubbles are likely to nucleate in a glass of champagne (or bubbly) is of concern for sommeliers, wine journalists, experienced tasters, and any open minded physical chemist wondering about complex phenomena at play in a glass of bubbly.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
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Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2025
In these cases, the Garvin is filled with a combination of small groups nucleated by one shark fan or people who wanted to be a marine biologist at some point or those who simply have a general interest in science.
—ArsTechnica, 22 July 2025
Researchers have identified a few things that can make a surface better or worse at nucleating ice.
—Quanta Magazine, 17 June 2024
If another bubble universe just happened to nucleate close to ours, then there’s a small chance that our universes may have briefly intersected before being permanently driven away from each other.
—Popular Mechanics, 7 Apr. 2023
Rough spots inside a glass can also help to nucleate bubbles; some glassmakers etch shapes inside glasses to help this process along.
—Nicola Jones, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Dec. 2021
These boundaries often contain areas of enhanced wind shear (change in wind direction), leading to pockets of spin that can nucleate a tornado within stronger storm cells.
—Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2020
The other option is to enhance ALD by using a very thin oxidized layer, such as silicon oxide, to help nucleate the growth of the ALD layer.
—IEEE Spectrum, 21 Jan. 2020
The issue about how many carbon dioxide bubbles are likely to nucleate in a glass of champagne (or bubbly) is of concern for sommeliers, wine journalists, experienced tasters, and any open minded physical chemist wondering about complex phenomena at play in a glass of bubbly.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 13 Jan. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Nucleate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nucleate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
nucleate
verb
nu·cle·ate
ˈn(y)ü-klē-ˌāt
nucleated; nucleating
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