From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishradiationra‧di‧a‧tion /ˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/ ●○○ noun [uncountable] 1 TPHPa form of energy that comes especially from nuclear reactions, which in large amounts is very harmful to living things An accident at the power station could result in large amounts of radiation being released. a lethal dose of radiation2 TPenergy in the form of heat or light that is sent out as waves that you cannot see Sun creams work by blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation.COLLOCATIONS – Meanings 1 & 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + radiationnuclear radiationNuclear radiation has a devastating effect on living cells.solar radiation (=from the sun)How can solar radiation be trapped and used?cosmic radiation (=from space)The spacecraft is fitted with a shield to block cosmic radiation.ultraviolet/infra-red radiation (=from the light produced by the sun)Ultraviolet radiation damages DNA in plants.gamma/alpha/beta radiation technical (=radiation given off by the atomic matter of gamma, alpha, or beta rays)The conventional treatment for cancer is to bombard the tumour with gamma radiation.background radiation (=the radiation normally present in the environment)In some parts of the world, background radiation is very high.radiation + NOUNa radiation leakA radiation leak occurred at a Russian nuclear power station.radiation levelsThe background radiation level was normal.verbsgive off radiation (also emit radiation formal) (=produce it)The lamps emit ultra-violet radiation.absorb radiationIt is thought that a black hole absorbs any solar radiation that reaches it.be exposed to radiation (=be put in a situation where you are not protected from harmful radiation, especially nuclear radiation )The servicemen claimed they were illegally exposed to radiation during atomic tests.phrasesa dose of radiation (=an amount of radiation that someone experiences)Workers at the site received high doses of radiation.exposure to radiation (=when someone is near to a substance that gives off harmful radiation, especially nuclear radiation)One cause of leukaemia is exposure to radiation.
Examples from the Corpus
radiation• Souquet etal also emphasised the difficulty in interpreting parietal thickening in patients evaluated after radiation therapy.• The 20 tonnes of lead in the batteries has been found to have an immeasurably low level of background radiation.• The object's surface is heated by radiation from the atmospheric shock front.• Diamond absorbs infrared radiation by a slightly more complex process.• Sensors detected a dangerous level of radiation.• Harmful quantities of radiation are also released both before and after the uranium fuel enters the power station.• solar radiation• Clouds prevent the radiation of Earth's warmth into space.• The age of an archaeological specimen can therefore be determined by dividing the total radiation dose by the annual radiation dose.• Most threatening of these for the marine ecosystem is the exposure to increased ultra-violet radiation through the depletion of the ozone layer.• The tumors are treated with radiation. 