nucleus
/ˈnjuː.kli.əs/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: nuclei · nucleuses
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.
Noun
Examples
Situated in the centre of the largest agricultural basin in northern Formosa, T’ai-pei (population in 1964 was estimated to be 1,117,000) forms the nucleus of a major industrial area. The T’ai-pei industrial complex includes light and heavy industies within the urbanized area and also in several ind
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
An initial part or version that will receive additions.
Noun
Examples
This collection will form the nucleus of a new library.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “nucleus” mean?
The core, central part of something, around which other elements are assembled.
Is “nucleus” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.