radioactive
adjectivenouncommon in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌɹeɪdiəʊˈaktɪv//
- United States//ˌɹeɪdioʊˈæktɪv//
Exhibiting radioactivity.
adjective
- 1
Exhibiting radioactivity.
As a matter of fact many of our best drinking waters have all sorts of unspecified qualities. Burton water, for example, is radioactive by Beetham's standards up to the ninth degree.
Today, no one would intentionally smear radioactive materials on their face, but in 1933, the dangers of radioactivity were not yet fully understood.
- 2
figurativeDangerous and disgusting, particularly of people or ideas.
Even sleazy tactics and his radioactive mouth may not be able to contain this debacle.
It was as though he was possessed of an invisible aura repelling incoming bodies. ‘Look. No one wants to be associated with him now. He’s become radioactive.’
And while Biden’s other nominees have done little to provoke Republican backlash thus far, [Neera] Tanden is “radioactive,” as Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) put it.
If, by some miracle, Democrats hang on to one or both houses of Congress this November, it will be because of Cawthorn, Paul Gosar, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert and other would-be G.O.P. candidates trying to be just like them — the Radioactive Republicans.
Etymology
Etymology tree Latin radiusder. French radio- Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti Proto-Italic *agō Latin agō Proto-Indo-European *-wós Proto-Indo-European *-iHwósder. Latin -īvus ▲ Ancient Greek ἐνεργητῐκός (energētĭkós)sl. Latin āctīvusbor. Old French actif French actif French radioactifbor. English radioactive Coined by Pierre Curie and Marie Curie in 1898 as French radio-actif, equivalent to English radio- + active.
noun
- 1
Any radioactive substance.
Any ship nearby will receive a lethal dose of gamma rays, neutrons, and other radioactives.
Forms
- plural
- radioactives
- comparative
- more radioactive
- superlative
- most radioactive