[nu.cle.ate] vb -at.ed ; -at.ing [LL nucleatus, pp. of nucleare to become stony, fr. L nucleus] vt (ca. 1864) 1: to form into a nucleus: cluster
2: to act as a nucleus for
3: to supply nuclei to ~ vi 1: to form a nucleus
2: to act as a nucleus
3: to begin to form -- nu.cle.ation n -- nu.cle.a.tor n