nu ‧ cle ‧ us /ˈnjuːkliəs $ ˈnuː-/ BrE AmE noun ( plural nuclei /-kliaɪ/) [countable]
[ Date: 1700-1800 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: 'center of a nut' , from nux 'nut' ]
1 . the central part of an atom, made up of ↑ neutron s , ↑ proton s , and other ↑ elementary particle s
2 . the central part of almost all the cells of living things
3 . a small important group at the centre of a larger group or organization
nucleus of
the nucleus of an effective team
Marantz and Grohl form the nucleus of the Atlanta operation.