slightly-enriched uranium

A form of slightly enriched uranium — Enriched uranium with 0.9-2% uranium-235, requiring a special moderator with very low neutron absorption (such as heavy water or high-purity graphite) in order to sustain a nuclear fission chain reaction; used to increase power output and efficiency in a few types of nuclear reactors capable of running on natural uranium and for downblending of highly-enriched uranium from decommissioned nuclear weapons into low-enriched uranium suitable for use in commercial power reactors.

Meanings

nounslightly-enriched uranium (uncountable)
  1. alternativeuncountableAlternative spelling of slightly enriched uranium.
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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