n.
Pronunciation: ' fi-sh ə n, -zh ə n
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin fission-, fissio, from findere to split ― more at BITE
Date: circa 1617
1 : a splitting or breaking up into parts
2 : reproduction by spontaneous division of the body into two or more parts each of which grows into a complete organism
3 : the splitting of an atomic nucleus resulting in the release of large amounts of energy
– fis · sion · al \ -sh ə -n ə l, -zh ə - \ adjective