 3 definitions found
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
nucleus
noun
1: a part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible
for growth and reproduction [syn: {cell nucleus}, {karyon}]
2: the positively charged dense center of an atom
3: a small group of indispensable persons or things; "five
periodicals make up the core of their publishing program"
[syn: {core}, {core group}]
4: (astronomy) the center of the head of a comet; consists of
small solid particles of ice and frozen gas that vaporizes
on approaching the sun to form the coma and tail
5: any histologically identifiable mass of neural cell bodies
in the brain or spinal cord
[also: {nuclei} (pl)]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Nucleus \Nu"cle*us\, noun; pl. E. {Nucleuses}, L. {Nuclei}. [L., a
kernel, dim. fr. nux, nucis, nut. Cf. {Newel} post.]
1. A kernel; hence, a central mass or point about which
matter is gathered, or to which accretion is made; the
central or material portion; -- used both literally and
figuratively.
It must contain within itself a nucleus of truth.
--I. Taylor.
2. (Astron.) The body or the head of a comet.
3. (Bot.)
(a) An incipient ovule of soft cellular tissue.
(b) A whole seed, as contained within the seed coats.
4. (Biol.) A body, usually spheroidal, in a eukaryotic cell,
distinguished from the surrounding protoplasm by a
difference in refrangibility and in behavior towards
chemical reagents, which contains the chromosomal genetic
material, including the chromosomal DNA. It is more or
less protoplasmic, and consists of a clear fluid
(achromatin) through which extends a network of fibers
(chromatin) in which may be suspended a second rounded
body, the nucleolus (see {Nucleoplasm}). See {Cell
division}, under {Division}.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
Note: The nucleus is sometimes termed the endoplast or
endoblast, and in the protozoa is supposed to be
concerned in the female part of the reproductive
process. See {Karyokinesis}.
5. (Zo["o]l.)
(a) The tip, or earliest part, of a univalve or bivalve
shell.
(b) The central part around which additional growths are
added, as of an operculum.
(c) A visceral mass, containing the stomach and other
organs, in Tunicata and some mollusks.
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
112 Moby Thesaurus words for "nucleus":
Anlage, Kern, NMR, alpha particle, antibaryon, antilepton,
antimeson, atomic nucleus, atomic particle, axiom, axis, baryon,
basichromatin, beta particle, bud, center, center of action,
center of gravity, centroid, centrum, chromatin, chromatin strands,
core, dead center, diameter, diaphragm, egg, electron,
elementary particle, elixir, embryo, epicenter, equator, essence,
essential, flower, focus, fundamental, germ, germen, gist,
gravamen, heart, heterochromatin, hub, hypostasis, inner essence,
interior, karyosome, karyotin, kernel, lepton, loins, macronucleus,
marrow, mean, meat, median, medulla, meganucleus, meson,
metacenter, micronucleus, middle, midmost, midriff, midst, nave,
navel, neutron, nub, nuclear force, nuclear magnetic resonance,
nuclear particle, nuclear resonance, nucleolus, nucleon,
nucleosynthesis, nuts and bolts, omphalos, ovum, photon, pith,
pivot, plasmosome, postulate, principle, proton, quid, quiddity,
quintessence, rudiment, sap, seed, soul, spark, spermatozoon,
spirit, storm center, strangeness, strong interaction, stuff,
substance, the nitty-gritty, thick, thick of things, triton,
umbilicus, valence electron, waist, waistline, zone
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