French word

noyau

Pronunciation

IPA/nwajo/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncore

Example

Le noyau de la Terre est très chaud.

The core of the Earth is very hot.

Illustration for noyau (core)

More examples

Le noyau du problème est difficile à identifier.

The core of the problem is difficult to identify.

Core concept

The inner center from which a larger structure, system, or idea is organized.

Common phrases

  • le noyau dur

    hard core

  • le noyau du problème

    core of the problem

Similar words

cœur: The central part of a person or thing that matters most.
centre: The middle position within a place or building.
pôle: A central hub for a particular activity or function.
foyer: A focal place for activities or events.

Definition in French

Élément central qui constitue ou soutient le reste d'un système, d'une idée ou d'une structure.

Word origin

The French noun noyau developed through Old French from Latin nucalis, a word formed from nux, 'nut'.

Usage tips

  • In fruit vocabulary, noyau means the hard pit of a stone fruit, whereas pépin means a small seed such as an apple seed.

Other meanings

  • centernoun
  • nucleusnoun
  • pitnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word