breeder reactor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical / Scientific
Quick answer
What does “breeder reactor” mean?
A nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material (fuel) than it consumes while generating energy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material (fuel) than it consumes while generating energy.
A type of nuclear reactor designed to create new nuclear fuel, typically converting non-fissile isotopes like uranium-238 into fissile plutonium-239, thereby 'breeding' more fuel for future reactors.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. The technical term is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations. May carry the same societal connotations related to nuclear safety, waste, and weapons proliferation.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and highly specialized in both dialects, appearing almost exclusively in scientific, engineering, energy policy, and environmental contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “breeder reactor” in a Sentence
The [fast/experimental] breeder reactor [produces/creates/generates] [plutonium/ fuel].Scientists are [researching/developing/debating] breeder reactor [technology/designs/safety].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breeder reactor” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The programme aims to develop reactors that can breed more fuel.
- The process breeds plutonium-239 from uranium-238.
American English
- The project is focused on developing technology that breeds fuel.
- The core is designed to breed fissile material efficiently.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form for this noun compound]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form for this noun compound]
adjective
British English
- The breeder-reactor technology presents unique challenges.
- They discussed the breeder programme's viability.
American English
- Breeder reactor technology involves complex fuel cycles.
- The breeder concept is key to a closed fuel cycle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in energy sector reports, investment analyses of advanced nuclear technologies, and discussions about long-term fuel supply.
Academic
Central in nuclear physics, engineering, and energy policy papers discussing fuel cycles, sustainability, and radioactive waste management.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in news articles or documentaries about nuclear energy's future.
Technical
The primary domain. Used in reactor design, nuclear fuel cycle analysis, safety assessments, and proliferation studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breeder reactor”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breeder reactor”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breeder reactor”
- Misspelling as 'breeder reacter'. Confusing it with a general 'nuclear reactor'. Using it as a synonym for any experimental reactor.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Safety is heavily debated. Proponents argue advanced designs are safe, while critics point to risks associated with handling plutonium and reactive coolants like liquid sodium.
High cost, technical complexity, concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation (as they produce plutonium), and challenges with coolant systems have limited their widespread commercial deployment.
It refers to 'fast neutrons'. These reactors use high-energy neutrons to sustain the fission chain reaction and convert fertile material (like U-238) into fissile fuel (like Pu-239) more efficiently.
This is a key concept. Some breeder reactor designs can theoretically use nuclear waste from conventional reactors as fuel, transmuting long-lived radioactive isotopes into shorter-lived ones, which is a potential solution for waste management.
A nuclear reactor that produces more fissile material (fuel) than it consumes while generating energy.
Breeder reactor is usually technical / scientific in register.
Breeder reactor: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbriːdə rɪˈæktə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbridər riˈæktər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'breeder' like a chicken that lays eggs (new fuel) while also providing meat (energy). A breeder reactor 'lays' new nuclear fuel while producing power.
Conceptual Metaphor
BREEDING IS GENERATING/ PRODUCING. The reactor is metaphorically an organism that reproduces (fuel).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary functional distinction of a breeder reactor?