highly-enriched uranium

A form of highly enriched uranium — Enriched uranium containing at least 20% uranium-235 (some applications, such as fission weapons and naval reactors, use uranium enriched to as high as 80-95% uranium-235), and therefore capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction without needing a moderator; used in nuclear weapons and in a few types of nuclear reactors requiring very high power density or high neutron flux.

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Meanings

nounhighly-enriched uranium (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative spelling of highly enriched uranium.
Cite this entry
APA

highly-enriched uranium. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/highly-enriched%20uranium

MLA

“highly-enriched uranium.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/highly-enriched%20uranium. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “highly-enriched uranium,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/highly-enriched%20uranium.

Source: highly-enriched uranium on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.