Re·ac·tor is the syllabic division of the English noun reactor, as conventionally presented in dictionaries using interpuncts (centered dots) to indicate syllabification. The word is divided into three syllables: re·ac·tor.
Etymology
The word reactor is formed from the verb react (from Latin re-, meaning "again" or "back," + agere, meaning "to do" or "to act") combined with the agentive suffix -or (denoting a person or thing that performs an action). It entered English usage in the late 19th century, with the nuclear sense emerging around 1940–1945.
Pronunciation
- UK: /riˈæk.tə/
- US: /riˈæk.tɚ/
Definitions
Reactor is a noun with several established meanings across different fields:
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Nuclear Physics (most common usage): An apparatus or structure in which fissile material can be made to undergo a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear fission (or fusion) reaction, with the consequent release of energy. Also called a nuclear reactor.
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Chemistry: A vessel or container, especially in industrial use, in which chemical reactions are carried out (e.g., a batch reactor, a fluidized bed reactor).
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Electrical Engineering: A coil or other circuit component of low resistance and high inductance that introduces reactance into an electrical circuit.
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Medicine / Immunology: A person or animal that shows an immune response to a specific antigen or an adverse reaction to a drug or other foreign substance.
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General: A person or thing that reacts or undergoes a reaction; one who responds to a suggestion, stimulation, or other influence.
Syllabification
The syllabic break re·ac·tor reflects the word's morphological composition (re- prefix, act root, -or suffix) and its standard hyphenation points for end-of-line word division. The phonetic syllabification, as indicated in pronunciation guides, may differ slightly: dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster show the phonetic division as \ri-ˈak-tər, where the consonant cluster /kt/ bridges the second and third syllables.
