atomic pile

noun, Physics.
1.
reactor (def 4).
Origin
1940-45
Examples from the web for atomic pile
  • Therefore, they never were able to sustain a chain reaction, and they were never able to built an atomic pile.
British Dictionary definitions for atomic pile

atomic pile

noun
1.
the original name for a nuclear reactor
atomic pile in Science
atomic pile  
An early type of nuclear reactor whose core consisted of layers of graphite block interspersed with uranium, designed to create a sustained fission reaction.