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Meaning of half-life

Source language: EnglishDictionary language: English

half-life

Pronunciation:/ˈhæfˌlaɪf/

noun

Definitions

  1. The time required for half of the nuclei in a sample of a specific isotope to undergo radioactive decay.

  2. In a chemical reaction, the time required for the concentration of a reactant to fall from a chosen value to half that value.

  3. The time it takes for a substance (drug, radioactive nuclide, or other) to lose half of its pharmacological, physiologic, or radiological activity.

  4. The time it takes for an idea or a fashion to lose half of its influential power.