See Also: Fission(medicine)
bud fission(medicine)
fission(dictionary)
fission(dictionary)
Binary fission(medicine)
nuclear fission(encyclopedia)
simple fission(medicine)
nuclear fission(medicine)
multiple fission(medicine)
fission yeast(medicine)

fission (iou)



fission noun & verb. E17.
[Latin fissio(n-), from fiss-: see FISSILE, -ION.]
A. noun.
The action of splitting or dividing into pieces. E17.
C. Rycroft The absence of a native genius for compromise has led to complete fission.
Biology. The division of a cell or organism into new cells or organisms, as a mode of reproduction. M19.
BINARY fission. multiple fission: see MULTIPLE adjective.
Physics. The splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus into (usu.) two nuclei spontaneously or under the impact of another particle, with resulting release of energy. M20.
Comb.: fission bomb an atomic bomb.
b. verb intrans. & trans. (Cause to) undergo fission. E20.
G. R. Keepin Those heavy nuclides which can be fissioned by thermal neutrons. G. Sampson When Latin lost its role and cultures began to fission along national lines in the Renascence.
? Rare before M19.
fissiona'bility noun the quality of being fissionable M20.
fissionable adjective able to undergo fission; tending to undergo fission: M20.