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curie definition

cu·rie (kyo̵̅o̅rē′, kyo̵̅o̅ rē)

noun

a basic unit of radioactivity, equal to a rate of decay of 3.7 × 10 disintegrations per second (3.7037 × 10 becquerels): abbrev. Ci

Etymology: after M. Curie: see Marie Curie

Curie definition

Cu·rie (kyo̵o rē, kyo̵orē; Frrē)

  1. Curie, Marie (born Marie Sklodowska) 1867-1934; Pol. chemist & physicist in France: discovered polonium & radium (1898) in collaboration with her husband
  2. Curie, Pierre 1859-1906; Fr. physicist: husband of Marie

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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