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Definition of radiation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

radiation

noun
 
 
/ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃn/
 
/ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃn/
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  1.  
    [uncountable, countable] powerful and very dangerous rays that are sent out from radioactive substances
    • high levels/doses of radiation that damage cells
    • the link between exposure to radiation and childhood cancer
    • a radiation leak from a nuclear power station
    • radiation sickness
    • the radiations emitted by radium
    see also alpha radiation, gamma radiation
    Extra Examples
    • Nuclear testing has exposed millions of people to radiation.
    • The counter showed high levels of radiation.
    Topics Physics and chemistryb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • background
    • low-level
    • damaging
    • …
    … of radiation
    • dose
    verb + radiation
    • emit
    • give off
    • absorb
    • …
    radiation + verb
    • leak
    • leak out
    radiation + noun
    • sickness
    • dose
    • level
    • …
    preposition
    • radiation from
    phrases
    • levels of radiation
    See full entry
  2.  
    [uncountable] heat, energy, etc. that is sent out in the form of rays
    • ultraviolet radiation
    • electromagnetic radiation from power lines
    • The ozone layer absorbs solar radiation.
    Topics Physics and chemistryb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • background
    • low-level
    • damaging
    • …
    … of radiation
    • dose
    verb + radiation
    • emit
    • give off
    • absorb
    • …
    radiation + verb
    • leak
    • leak out
    radiation + noun
    • sickness
    • dose
    • level
    • …
    preposition
    • radiation from
    phrases
    • levels of radiation
    See full entry
  3. (also radiation therapy)
     [uncountable] the treatment of cancer and other diseases using radiation compare chemotherapy, radiotherapy
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • background
    • low-level
    • damaging
    • …
    … of radiation
    • dose
    verb + radiation
    • emit
    • give off
    • absorb
    • …
    radiation + verb
    • leak
    • leak out
    radiation + noun
    • sickness
    • dose
    • level
    • …
    preposition
    • radiation from
    phrases
    • levels of radiation
    See full entry
    4. Word Originlate Middle English (denoting the action of sending out rays of light): from Latin radiatio(n-), from radiare ‘emit rays’, from radius ‘ray, spoke’.
See radiation in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee radiation in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: radiation

Nearby words

given
adjective
 
 
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