The device used to shut down a nuclear reactor; also, the button or switch used to initiate a shutdown.
Used in a Sentence
scram
Definitions, parts of speech, synonyms, and sentence examples for scram.
Editorial note
A scram can occur for no better reason than that reactor protection was feeling finicky that day, so the drills are designed to assume a scram will happen, and recover safely and efficiently.
Examples17
Definitions4
Parts of speech2
Quick take
The device used to shut down a nuclear reactor; also, the button or switch used to initiate a shutdown.
Meaning at a glance
The clearest senses and uses of scram gathered in one view.
Of one's body or limbs: to become numb or stiff due to cold, lack of movement, etc.
To be weakened by an accident, a disease, starvation, etc.
Definitions
Core meanings and parts of speech for scram.
noun
The device used to shut down a nuclear reactor; also, the button or switch used to initiate a shutdown.
See also: bugger-off, buzz-off
verb
Of one's body or limbs: to become numb or stiff due to cold, lack of movement, etc.
See also: bugger-off, buzz-off
verb
To be weakened by an accident, a disease, starvation, etc.
See also: bugger-off, buzz-off
verb
Alternative letter-case form of scram. [(intransitive, originally US, often imperative) To leave in a hurry; to go away.]
See also: bugger-off, buzz-off
Example sentences
A scram can occur for no better reason than that reactor protection was feeling finicky that day, so the drills are designed to assume a scram will happen, and recover safely and efficiently.
The US DoD got the scram jet working, after only a few failures.
To be fair, they just gave me my marching orders and said they'd proceed to eviction if I didn't scram - and scram I did, as the place was falling down anyway.
It was only the oldest son who would inherit anything, so the rest of them wanted to scram as soon as they hit puberty.
Taylor Smith's TED talk is actually quite brilliant on where practical fission needs to go (low pressure, higher temp, molten salt with scram basin underneath).
On the night of the accident, a maintenance shutdown was scheduled but on scram the operators wanted to run a turbine spin down test, i.e.
Also the scram signal itself could be open to abuse.
Or for a higher risk example a few billion might get you a multi stage scram jet for getting stuff into LEO which could be huge.
Even on a submarine, which can flounder without propulsion and only has a single reactor, we do scram drills all the time.
So you are saying that vacancies is a scram?
Pushing past that has major issues, but a potential advantage is you can build a air breathing scram jet without needing design your engine for lower speeds.
Also, I'd be interested in knowing what kind of scram mechanism they develop.
Quote examples
They should respond to a "scram" signal that clears an area for things like rescue helicopters and firefighting aircraft.
> They should respond to a "scram" signal that clears an area for things like rescue helicopters and firefighting aircraft.
If you were running at 3000 MWt, 5 minutes after you scram you still have to do "something" with 300 MW of heat, and you don't want to have to rely on just one diesel.
"Networking" might have really been codeword for partying, buying the drinks to get people to listen, who when pressed to buy come up with a lame excuse and scram.
Proper noun examples
Scram jets operate above the speed of sound so the air rushing into any intake will essentially be superheated which is a problem since the fastest you go the more fuel you need to burn and thus you need more and more oxidizer the faster you go (meanwhile, your intake air is explosively expanding).
Frequently asked questions
Short answers drawn from the clearest meanings and examples for this word.
How do you use scram in a sentence?
A scram can occur for no better reason than that reactor protection was feeling finicky that day, so the drills are designed to assume a scram will happen, and recover safely and efficiently.
What does scram mean?
The device used to shut down a nuclear reactor; also, the button or switch used to initiate a shutdown.
What part of speech is scram?
scram is commonly used as noun, verb.