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Definition of Nucleus
1. Noun. A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction.
Group relationships: Cell
Specialized synonyms: Pronucleus, Subthalamic Nucleus
Terms within: Karyoplasm, Nucleoplasm
Terms within: Nucleole, Nucleolus, Chromatin, Chromatin Granule, Achromatin, Linin, Chromosome
Generic synonyms: Cell Organ, Cell Organelle, Organelle
Derivative terms: Nucleate
2. Noun. The positively charged dense center of an atom.
3. Noun. A small group of indispensable persons or things. "Five periodicals make up the core of their publishing program"
4. Noun. (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.
Generic synonyms: Center, Centre, Midpoint
Group relationships: Comet
5. Noun. Any histologically identifiable mass of neural cell bodies in the brain or spinal cord.
6. Noun. The central structure of the lens that is surrounded by the cortex.
Generic synonyms: Anatomical Structure, Bodily Structure, Body Structure, Complex Body Part, Structure
Definition of Nucleus
1. n. 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.
Definition of Nucleus
1. Noun. The core, central part (of something), round which others are assembled. ¹
2. Noun. An initial part or version that will receive additions. ¹
3. Noun. (context: chemistry physics) The massive, positively charged central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons. ¹
4. Noun. (cytology) A large organelle found in cells which contains genetic material. ¹
5. Noun. (neuroanatomy) A ganglion, cluster of many neuronal bodies where synapsing occurs. ¹
6. Noun. (linguistics) The central part of a syllable, most commonly a vowel. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Definition of Nucleus
1. an essential part of a cell [n -CLEI or -CLEUSES]
Medical Definition of Nucleus
1. The major organelle of eukaryotic cells, in which the chromosomes are separated from the cytoplasm by the nuclear envelope. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)