fission

fission /fis·sion/ (fish´un)

1. the act of splitting.

2. asexual reproduction in which the cell divides into two (binary f.) or more (multiple f.) daughter parts, each of which becomes an individual organism.

3. nuclear fission; the splitting of the atomic nucleus, with release of energy.

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fis·sion (fshn)

n.

1. The act or process of splitting into parts.

2. The amitotic division of a cell or its nucleus.

3. An asexual process of reproduction in which a unicellular organism divides into two or more independently maturing daughter cells.

4. A nuclear reaction in which an atomic nucleus, especially a heavy nucleus such as an isotope of uranium, splits into fragments, usually two of comparable mass, with the evolution of from 100 million to several hundred million electron volts of energy.

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fission

[fish′ən]

Etymology: L, fissio, splitting

1 the act or process of splitting or breaking up into two or more parts.

2 a type of asexual reproduction common in bacteria, protozoa, and other simpler forms of life in which the cell divides into two or more equal components, each of which eventually develops into a complete organism. Kinds of fission are binary fission and multiple fission.

3 (in physics) the splitting of the nucleus of an atom and subsequent release of energy. Also called nuclear fission.

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fission (fish´n),

n the splitting of a nucleus into two fragments. Fission may occur spontaneously or may be induced artificially. In addition to the fission fragments, particulate radiation energy and gamma rays are usually produced during fission.

fission, nuclear, products,

n.pl the elements (nuclides) or compounds resulting from nuclear fission.

fission products,

n.pl the nuclides produced by the fission of a heavy-element nuclide.

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fission

1. the act of splitting.

2. asexual reproduction in which the cell divides into two (binary fission) or more (multiple fission) daughter parts, each of which becomes an individual organism.

3. nuclear fission; the splitting of the atomic nucleus, with release of energy.